1 - HTR

Transcription

1 - HTR

This documentation provides the information you need
to use and enjoy all the features of AT THE RACES PRO.
Use the mouse or the scroll bar to move through
succeeding pages.
ATRpro home page: http://homebased2.com/atr/at_the_races.htm
ATRpro support:
garypitz@hotmail.com
Version 8.22 April 11, 2016
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Contents 1/3
Introduction
Slide 5
Getting Started
Slide 6
Dutch, Hedge Win Bets
Slide 21
Print Bets
Kelly-Criterion Win Bets
Slide 23
Slide 27
ATRpro Screens
WPS Screen
Slide 29
WPS Calculator
Slide 37
ODDS Screen
Slide 40
TOTE Screen
Slide 52
Devere Tote Grid
Slide 54
STATS Screen
Slide 63
DOUBLE Screen
Slide 64
CHINESE DOUBLE form
Slide 73
CHINESE PICK-3 form
Slide 75
EXACTA Screen
Slide 77
QUINELLA Screen
Slide 78
TRIFECTA and SUPERFECTA Screen
Slide 79
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Contents 2/3
ATRpro Graphs
New Format Graph
Slide 78
Slide 87
Multiple Tracks
Slide 97
Setting Delays
Slide 105
Pause Button
Slide 107
The One Step Track Select Toolbar
Slide 108
Getting to the Option Form
Slide 113
Option Screen 1 - options 1-6
Slide 114
Superfecta Calculator
Slide 115
Morning Line
Slide 117
Group Odds
Slide 120
Option Screen 2 - options 7-15 and 23
Slide 129
Spot Plays
Slide 130
Tote Systems
Slide 137
Option Screen 3 - options 16-22 and 24-25
Slide 142
Auto-Save
Slide 145
Using KLine Odds -- Auto Scratch in HTR2
Slide 150
Recording Data with the Wake Up Session
Slide 159
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Contents 3/3
Option Screen 4 - options 26-29
Slide 168
Email Alarms
Slide 175
Emailing Copies of ATRpro Screens
Slide 181
Creating a Custom HX4 Alarm
Slide 183
Running the Racing Channel Log-In Wizard
Slide 193
Scratch Form
Slide 200
Ten Cent Superfecta Creation Form
Slide 202
KLine Odds / Tote Odds Blending Form
Slide 214
Group Overlay
Slide 228
View 4
Slide 236
Exacta and Double Trends
Slide 253
Registration
Slide 258
About the Developers
Slide 259
Dick Schmidt Review
Slide 261
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Introduction
The average horse player, thanks to the Internet, can now access more data in a few minutes than
expert handicappers, only a few years ago, could have dreamed about.
But massive data flows, without the right analytical tools, only bring massive confusion.
That’s why two racing aficionados — Gary Pizzigati, a veteran computer programmer, and Jack
Burkholder, a professional horse player — have teamed up to create At the Races, a Windows-based
tote board gambling tool that offers “stay at home” bettors the help they need to parlay their
passions into payoffs.
With At the Races, horse players can complete analyses that are virtually impossible to perform
manually. They can, for instance:
* track changes in the win and exacta pools as post time approaches
* calculate relationships between the different betting pools (win, place, show, exacta, quinella and
daily double)
* create spot play alarms to alert you to promising bets
* calculate the profit potential for all types of bets, including dutches and hedges in any of the
betting pools
* find the most efficient way to bet a particular horse
* identify differences in the betting pools that produce promising betting opportunities
* “handicap the bettors” at a specific track
* estimate trifecta payoffs
* study tote data in unique ways including graphs and an automated Devere Tote Grid
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The STARTUP SCREEN is the opening screen of At The Races (ATRpro). The computer must be connected to the
Internet before starting ATRpro. For most users, ATRpro will automatically configure to the Internet when the GO
button (1) is clicked. For those using a PROXY Internet connection, it will be necessary to click on the INTERNET
SETUP button (2) to manually configure ATRpro.
New to V5.0 is an option to use a redesigned main form that includes a tabbed layout for easy navigation. Another
advantage of the new ATRpro main form for many users is that it is fixed in size – making it easy to use side by side
with other applications on a high resolution display. In any case, you can easily switch between the old and new formats
using the option (3). This manual has been mostly written for the old format display.
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New to V7.32 is the EZ RESULTS and EZ SCRATCHES buttons (2). Clicking on these buttons give you access to
scratches or results for the day from this opening ATRpro form. The following slides show the output when
clicking on these buttons.
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This is the SCRATCH FORM that appears when clicking on the EZ SCRATCHES button on the opening ATRpro
form. You can refresh the data on this form by clicking on the EZ SCRATCHES button on this form. This feature is
also available from the home screen or the old or new format main ATRpro forms.
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This is the RESTULTS FORM that appears when clicking on the EZ RESULTS button on the opening ATRpro form.
You can refresh the data on this form by clicking on the EZ RESULTS button on this form. It is a quick and easy
way to see the up to date results for all running thoroughbred races with one click. This feature is also available
from the home screen or the old or new format main ATRpro forms.
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This is the OLD FORMAT ATRpro display shown after clicking on the GO button from the ATRpro opening screen.
The top section of the ATRpro display includes the STATUS BAR (1).
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This is the NEW FOMAT ATRpro display shown after clicking on the GO button from the ATRpro opening screen. The
top section of the ATRpro display includes the STATUS BAR (1).
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The user controls which screen is displayed on ATRpro by clicking on the appropriate SCREEN OPTION (1) buttons
located immediately below the STATUS BAR.
The first screen displayed is the HOME screen (2). The HOME screen is used to choose the source of the Internet
tote data.
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This is the initial HOME screen display.
The user has a choice of retrieving data from either the R TRACK LIST (the Racing Channel), the S
TRACK LIST (Super Tote) or the A TRACK LIST.
The R TRACK LIST is the recommended tote source. It generally provides all the tote info that is
processed by ATRpro including exotic payoffs, win odds, morning line odds, win/place/show pool data,
scratches, and results. It is generally more reliable and provides more tracks than the other tote sources.
You need either a current PhoneBet or OneClick account to access the R TRACK LIST from ATRpro.
The S TRACK LIST also provides exotic payoffs, win odds, scratches, results, and morning line odds for
many tracks, but usually does not have current win/place/show pool data.
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Accessing the R TRACK LIST
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You need either a current PhoneBet or OneClick account to access the R TRACK LIST
from ATRpro. The default is PhoneBet. Click the ONECLICK option (1) to use your
OneClick account.
Click the NEW (R) LIST button to start the process of logging into your PhoneBet or
OneClick account.
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An Input Box (1) appears after the first time you click on the NEW (R) TRACK LIST button during an ATRpro
session. A message is displayed which reaffirms which account is expected – in this case, a PhoneBet account.
Respond by clicking on the YES button if you want to continue. Click on the NO button if you do not have a
current account and you will be returned to the HOME Screen.
A Message Box (2) appears after clicking on the YES button of the Input Box, and displays the directions for
logging on to the PhoneBet website. The following slides follow this procedure.
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The ATRpro Web Browser then appears with the Racing Channel Log-In screen. Type in your Account Number
and Zip Code and click on the LOG IN button (1).
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The Racing Channel home tote screen then appears on the ATRpro Web Browser. The “WELCOME” message will
be displayed after a successful login. Click on the minimize button (“_”) or the exit button (“X”), shown in the
upper right hand screen of the ATRpro Web Browser (1), to return to ATRpro.
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The HOME screen is then displayed. The HOME SCREEN is the heart of AT THE RACES. The HOME SCREEN can
always be accessed by hitting the HOME OPTION button (1) located near the top left of the ATRpro display. From
this screen, the user can choose to get data for a single track or a group of tracks (2). The use can also customize
the tracks shown on the TRACK LIST GRID (3) with buttons on this screen (4).
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A
To get data for a single track, you click on the name of the track in the TRACK LIST GRID (1). Then click
on either the GET ONCE button (2) to get the data one time without updates or the GET DATA AND
DISPLAY OFTEN button (3) to get data with automatic continuous updates (CONTINUOUS MODE).
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This image shows the resulting screen after the user clicked on ‘Pimlico Race Course’ on the TRACK LIST
GRID (1) and then clicked on either the GET ONCE button (2) to get the data one time without updates.
Notice that the current track is now displayed in the STATUS BAR (3) and current $2 win prices are shown
in the BET GRID (4).
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The BET GRID SCREEN is shown whenever Win data is available. It is in the lower left portion of the screen. The top
line of the BET GRID SCREEN shows the track name and the minutes to post (MTP), followed by program numbers of
each horse. The second row shows the $2 win price. A mouse click on the white cell labeled “$2 win” (1) changes the
format of this row to show the current odds for each horse. Another click on the white cell labeled “odds:1” (2) will
change the display back to the $2 win price.
The program numbers of the horses, shown in the top row of the BET GRID SCREEN, highlights in red any horse which
was the betting favorite during any MINUTE ODDS categories on the ODDS SCREEN. The favorite in the most recent
MINUTE ODDS category is also in bold font. The background color of the program numbers of the horses also have
significance. If the user had created SPOT PLAY ALARMS for the current race, then a yellow background highlights the
spot play. The background color is changed to green when the spot play alarm has been turned off.
Notice that any part of the AT THE RACES screen that is WHITE will respond to mouse clicks. The easiest way to learn
what these WHITE cells or any of the buttons do is to click on them and see what happens!
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The BET GRID SCREEN allows the creation of dutched and hedged win bets. The goal of a dutched bet is to get an
equivalent profit no matter which of bets wins, while the goal of a hedge bet is to break even.
The total amount of these bets is set in the WIN BET BOX (3). The bet amount is easily changed by clicking on the
WIN BET BOX and typing in the new bet amount.
A mouse click on one of the white cell (1) adds the horse as a dutch bet. A second click turns the bet into a hedge.
A third click removes the bet. With each click on these cells, ATRpro calculates the amount of the bet and the current
profit. The calculation of these bets is automatically updated with each Internet update whenever the distribution of
the money in the win pool changes.
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The PRINT BETS form appears with a click on the PRINT BETS button (1). The dutched and hedged bets can then be
printed out by clicking on the PRINT button (2).
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New to V6.14, the PRINT BETS button now automatically creates a file with the current dutched and hedged win and exotic
bets in the format for uploading to the Premier Turf Club (PTC) off track wagering facility. This new feature makes it easy to
submit multiple bets, including combinations of several types of win and exotic bets, with a couple of mouse clicks. Thanks
for idea Jeff Joselson.
The following slide shows the new PRINT BETS form that is displayed when the PRINT BETS button (1) on the ATRpro main
is clicked, along with the a listing of the file that is created for submission to PTC.
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The PRINT BETS form (1) is displayed with a click on the PRINT BETS button. A file is also created in the C:\PTCbets
directory that contains the bets in the PTC format. The file name (2) is simply the date and time that the file was created.
Each line (3) in the file is for a single bet.
It is the your responsibility to check all bets in the file for accuracy before uploading the file to the Premier Turf Club off track
wagering site.
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New to V6.41, the PRINT BETS feature can now automatically create a file with the current dutched and hedged win and
exotic bets in the format for uploading to the YouBet off track wagering facility using the WagerQueuePro utility. By clicking
on the YOUBET FORMAT option (1), a popup will appear asking you to verify the YouBet track code that is automatically
generated by ATRpro. As with the PTC feature described in the previous slides, a file is created in the C:\Youbet directory that
contains the bets in the YouBet format. The file name is simply the date and time that the file was created. Each line in the
file is for a single bet. It is the your responsibility to check all bets in the file for accuracy before uploading the file to YouBet.
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ATRpro can calculate Kelly Criterion (K-C) win bets - thanks Richard Young.
The CALCULATE KELLY CRITERION BETS button (1) is located on the last OPTIONS screen (2). Clicking on
CALCULATE KELLY CRITERION BETS button brings up a pop-up form (3) for inputting the current bankroll. The
resulting bets are shown on the next slide.
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The amount of the bets is calculated for any horse whose tote odds are greater than their Morning Line odds, with
the Morning Line Odds assumed to be representing the horses true probability of winning. The user can import
his own odds lines into ATRpro to replace the Morning Line values that are downloaded automatically from the
Internet (when using the R Track List). The feature to import or manually input the ATRpro user’s own odds lines
or Morning Line odds is described later (see Table of Contents for slide numbers).
For the displayed tote odds and morning line values (1), inputting a $950 bankroll (2) gives the resulting Kelly
Criterion current bet amounts (3) and current profits for those horses whose tote odds are greater than their
morning line odds.
Much has been written on using the Kelly Criterion and this information is available at numerous Internet sites. It
is recommended that the user spend some effort researching the positive and negative aspects of the Kelly
Criterion.
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The WPS SCREEN displays a variety of information. The WPS SCREEN can always be accessed by hitting the WPS
OPTION button (4) located near the top left of the ATRpro display.
It gives the current return for a $2 win bet (1) and the current range of payoffs for $2 place and show bets (2). It
highlights in BLUE the place and show payoffs that show positive expectations based on the current relative distribution
of bets in the win pool. The value in the last row of the Win Payoff column is the amount of money in the win pool.
It also presents statistics about the probability or ‘outlook’ that each horse will finish second or third and the expected
return or ‘roi/$1’ on place and show bets (3). These factors are based on the current relative distribution of bets in the
win pool.
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Also shown is a unique value that can quickly indicate which of the win, exacta or double pools provide the best current
opportunity for bets. The “PITZ Exacta” (1) gives a current value for what a dutched exacta wheel would pay in terms of
a $2 bet. The “PITZ Double” similarly relates a dutched daily double wheel to a $2 bet. These “PITZ” values are
highlighted in BLUE if their value is greater than the $2 win payoff. If a "+" sign appears with either of these "PITZ"
values, it means that the actual value may be higher as there was at least one $999 payoff involved in the calculation (all
payoffs higher than $999 are listed as $999 on the Internet).
The term ‘PITZ’ is used throughout ATRpro as a way of expressing the value of a bet. Just as a horse player talks about
having a $12.00 horse, a $12.00 PITZ relates that the bettor can collect $12.00 for each $2.00 he wagers. For example,
on the WPS SCREEN, the “PITZ Exacta” values indicate that a dutched exacta bet on each horse currently results in that
PITZ return for every $2.00 bet no matter which horse comes in second. PITZ values are also shown on the EXACTA
SCREEEN, QUINELLA SCREEN, the DOUBLE SCREEN, and the TRIFECTA SCREEN.
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New to V4.34 is the ability to change the display in the WPS SCREEN from the “PITZ Exacta” (1) (defined as the current
value for what a dutched exacta wheel would pay in terms of a $2 bet) to the ratio of the current “WIN payoff”/“PITZ
Exacta” (2). This new display is a quick way to determine which pool offers more opportunity for each horse as a ratio
less than 1 indicates that the exacta pool is currently a better value than the win pool. Simply click on the white action
cell initially labeled “PITZ Exacta” (3) to change from one display to the other.
Similarly, the display of the “PITZ Double” (5) can easily be changed back and forth to the ratio of the current “WIN
payoff”/“PITZ Double” (6) by clicking on the white action cell initially labeled “PITZ Double” (4). Thanks Harry Y.
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New to V4.48 is the ability to change the display in the WPS SCREEN from $ bet in the Win/Place/Show pools (1) to the
rankings of those pools, and then to Win/Place, Win/Show and Place/Show ratios. This process is shown on the
following slides.
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Simply click on the white action cell labeled “Win Pool” (1) to change from the display of the $ bet in the
Win/Place/Show pools to the rankings of the $ bet on each horse in those pools (2). This display of rankings
of the Win/Place/Show pools can make it quick and easy to visually determine when horses are not bet
uniformly in these pools.
Note that any part of the AT THE RACES screen that is WHITE will respond to mouse clicks. The easiest way
to learn what these WHITE cells do is to click on them and see what happens!
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New to V5.58 is the display of the place and show ‘$2 win payoffs’ – what the horse would pay to win if the $2 win
payoff was calculated using the money in the place or show pool, rather than the win pool. Thanks to Bob Pearson for
idea.
Now clicking on the white action cell labeled “Win Pool” on the WPS screen will cycle through 3 displays:
(1) the $ bet in the Win/Place/Show pools
(2) the rankings of the $ bet on each horse in those pools
(3) the ‘$2 win payoff’ values of the Win/Place/Show pools.
The rankings and ‘$2 win payoff’ displays of the Win/Place/Show pools can make it quick and easy to visually determine
when horses are not bet uniformly in these pools.
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Simply click on the white action cell
initially labeled “Place Pool” (1) to
change from the display of the amount
bet on each horse in the Place and
Show pools, to “normalized” ratios of
the amount bet on each horse to win
relative to the place or show pool (2).
These ratios are normalized by dividing
by the ratio of the total win pool to the
total place (or show pool). A
“normalized” ratio value greater than
one indicates that relative to the
average horse, more is bet on that
horse to win than in the place or show
pools.
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Clicking on the white action cell now
labeled “W/Pl nRatio” (3) then changes
the display of “normalized” ratios to
“true” ratios (4). True ratios are useful
to quickly determine those horses that
have unusually large or small $ bet in
the place or show pools.
Clicking on the white action cell now
labeled “W/Pl Ratio” (5) then changes
the display of “true” ratios back to the
original display of the $ bet in the
Win/Place/Show pools (6).
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Whenever the Win/Show ratio is displayed, the “W/Sh Ratio” (1) cell becomes a white Action cell. Simply click on that
cell to change from the display from the Win/Show ratio to the Place/Show ratio (2). Clicking on the cell again
changes the display back to Win/Show ratio.
The next slide shows the ATRpro $2 Win-Place-Show Calculator that is displayed after clicking on the white action cell
labeled “Win Payoff” (3).
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This is the ATRpro $2 Win-Place-Show Calculator that is displayed after clicking on the white action cell labeled “Win
Payoff” on the WPS SCREEN as shown in the previous slide.
The three columns (1) on the left side of the calculator represent the 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishers of the race, and the
Payoff Display (2) on the right side of the calculator gives the current win, place, and show payoff for this combination.
When the form appears it will display the lowest program numbers for the first three finishers. Clicking on any of the
numbers representing the first three finishers changes the payoff display - as shown on the next slide.
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This shows the current payoffs (1) for the finish of 6-8-5, chosen by clicking on the appropriate numbers on the
calculator (2). This calculator is set up to automatically recalculate the payoffs whenever any of the finish numbers are
clicked or when the RECALCULATE button is clicked. The most recent payoff calculation is always displayed on the top of
the Payoff Display with previous payoffs shown below.
This calculator can be used to determine the current impact of a win, place or show bet on the payoffs. The bets are
input by simply keying in the amount in the appropriate bet cells (2). The next slide shows the impact of a $200 bet on
the 8 horse to place.
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This image shows the impact of a $200 bet (1) on the 8 to place as the payoff is reduced from $9.79 to $8.38 (2).
The next payouts shown in the Payout Display (3) then shows the changes due to the latest updates in the tote pools.
The impact of changes in the tote pools is automatically performed when ATRpro gets the info if the appropriate option is
checked (4). There is also an option to turn off and on the use of the win, place and show bets in the calculation of the
payoffs.
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The ODDS SCREEN automatically tracks changes in either the win pool, the exacta pool, a combination of both the
win and exacta pools, or a calculated win/show value. These values are either displayed as ‘by-the-minute’ values or
as ‘tote’ values. The ODDS SCREEN can always be accessed by hitting the ODDS OPTION button (1) located near
the top left of the ATRpro display.
Horse bettors are used to ‘tote’ values. Tote odds are calculated as the odds for each minute using the total of the
bets up to that minute - as would have been seen on the Track tote board for that flash. BTM values are calculated
by only including the bets placed in each minute of the betting for these pools. “By-the-minute”, or BTM, values are
a great way to watch the betting trends.
The data displayed on the ODDS SCREEN is controlled by clicking on one of the action cells shown on the bottom
row (2). The action cell colored white indicates the data currently displayed.
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This is one of many possible ODDS SCREEN displays. It shows the current relative percentage of the total pool
betting for each minute. The favorite in each category is highlighted in RED, the second favorite in BLUE and the
third favorite in PURPLE. Also shown is “Ex” odds which is an indication of how much money is bet on each horse in
the top half of exactas. Similarly, the “2nd Ex” odds relates to how much money is bet on each horse in the bottom
half of exactas. The “w+ex” odds gives the odds based on the total money bet on that horse in both the win and
exacta pools.
Note - if a cell in one of the MINUTE ODDS categories is shaded RED (1) it means that the pool for that horse went
down since the previous update, indicating that tickets may have been canceled. In that case, treat with suspicion all
the odds of all the horses for that one minute segment.
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This display shown on the ODDS SCREEN is changed by clicking on one of the action cells (1) shown on the
bottom row. This image of the ‘win tote’ odds was obtained by clicking on the WIN TOTE action cell. Compare
this display with the previous BTM display and you will see how different the win odds can be shown as tote in
comparison to BTM.
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New to Version 7.14 is the choice to display BTM ‘win pools’ rather than BTM ‘Win Odds’ on the ODDS FORM when the WIN
BTM option cell (1) is chosen -– thanks for the idea Larry Lyle. Change the default setting of BTM ‘Win Odds’ to ‘BTM Win
Pool’ by setting OPTION 30 on the Option Form to YES.
As compared to most of the screen shots in this documentation, this slide uses the new format ATRpro main form that
includes a tabbed layout for easy navigation. You can switch between the old and new formats using an option on the ATRpro
STARTUP form.
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This display shown on the ODDS SCREEN displays a unique value that can be very interesting, a running total of the
amount of money bet on each horse in the win pool divided by the amount of money bet on it in the show pool.
Clicking on the white W/S TOTE action cell (1) gives a new way of watching the tote action.
The average ratios at the bottom of the ODDS screen are calculated by dividing the total win pool by the total show
pool. A ratio higher than average indicates that a larger percentage of money has been bet on that horse to win
than the average horse. The theory is that the smart money bets a larger percentage on their ready horses to win
while the general public tends to bet more evenly across the board.
For this display, the horse with the highest ratio is shown in RED, second highest in BLUE and third highest in
PURPLE.
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This image of the ‘ex tote’ odds was obtained by clicking on the EX TOTE action cell (1). These ‘odds’ values
are calculated from the distribution of money in the exacta pool and indicate the relative amount of money bet
on each horse in the top half of exactas. Compare this display with the previous ‘win tote’ display and you will
see how different the ‘odds’ of horses in the exacta pool can be from the win pool.
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New to Version 6.84 is the ability to display ‘Place odds’ and ‘Show Odds’ on the ODDS FORM and on GRAPHS. These
place and show ‘odds’ values are calculated from the distribution of money in the place and show pools as if the
money was in the win pool.
Clicking on the new action cell (1) on the ODDS FORM enables you to switch between the display of ‘win+exacta
odds’ to ‘place odds’ to ‘show odds’ in the column (2) below this action cell. When the ‘win+exacta’ action cell (3)
shown on the bottom row is highlighted, clicking on the action cell (1) will also switch the display of odds versus
minutes to post on the ODDS FORM (4). See the following slides to see the ODDS FORM display when the action cell
(1) is clicked.
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This is the display of ‘Place odds’. Note that the cell in the upper left corner (1) of the ODDS FORM now
designates that the ‘place tote odds’ values are shown on the Minutes to Post columns, and that the
‘win+exacta tote’ action cell on the bottom row is now labeled ‘place tote’ (2).
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This is the display of ‘Show odds’. ’. Note that the cell in the upper left corner now designates that the ‘show
tote odds’ values are shown on the Minutes to Post columns, and that the ‘win+exacta tote’ action cell on the
bottom row is now labeled ‘show tote’.
Clicking on the GRAPH action cell (1) will produce the GRAPH FORM shown on the following slide.
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The graphs above show the changes in the win, place and show pools versus minutes to post. Similarly, graphs
can be created to display: exacta, win+exacta, win/morning line, win/show, win/place, and win/place+show.
See slides on the ATR GRAPHS FORM later in this documentation for more information on creation and
customizing of these images.
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New to V7.19, click on the Action Cell CODE (1) to highlight the top three favorites on the ODDS Screen either
by user chosen colored fonts or shading. This slide shows the new format ATRpro Form with the two types of
coloring available.
The next slide shows the COLORS FOR ODDS SCREEN form that appears after clicking the CODE cell.
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This slide shows the
COLORS FOR ODDS SCREEN
form that appears after
clicking the CODE cell on the
ODDS Screen.
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The first step is to choose
whether the first three
favorites will have colored
fonts, shaded backgrounds
or have no special coloring
using Option 4 (1). Note
that you can also make
these changes by using the
identical Option 4 on the
OPTION FORM.
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Next, choose the colors for
the colored fonts or for the
colored backgrounds by
choosing which of the three
rankings you want to change
(2) and then using the color
slide bars to create the color
(3). The resulting colors can
be instantly seen as you
slide the color slide bars on
the appropriate line on the
PICTURE BOX (4).
Finally, click on the MAKE
PERMANENT (5) button to
complete the process.
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1
This is the TOTE SCREEN. The TOTE SCREEN can always be accessed by hitting the TOTE OPTION button (1)
located near the top left of the ATRpro display.
The TOTE SCREEN automatically tracks changes in the win pool from 17 minutes to post till post time. The
odds shown are what would be seen at the track tote board, meaning they are rounded down so that a horse
with true odds of 5.9:1 would be displayed as “5” on screen. Possible odds are : 1-9, 1-5, 2-5, 1-2, 3-5, 4-5, 1,
6-5, 7-5, 3-2, 8-5, 9-5, 2, 5-2, 3, 7-2, 4, 9-2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,
24, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 99. You'll note that after 25, the next number is 30 (not 26), and
increases in increments of five until reaching 50, when the increase would be in increments of ten through 90,
with a final number of 99. Most tracks show the odds this way.
52
The TOTE SCREEN also enables users to manually delete individual minutes of by-the-minute data. This may be
desirable for some tracks when the very first frame (odds change from the morning line) contains only the
early-bird wagers, and the win pool is quite small. In the SECOND frame all the track money is dumped in,
skewing the odds drastically from the first frame. To delete a “minute of data”, click on the white cell that
displays that minute's value on the top row of the TOTE SCREEN.
The TOTE SCREEN includes a graphics display for each horse as developed by Robert Devere. A brief
description of the DEVERE TOTE SYSTEM is given in the next few slides.
53
Devere Tote Grid 1/9
The TOTE SCREEN includes a graphics display for each horse as developed by Robert Devere. Successful
horse players have created and studied hand-drawn versions of this display for over 30 years. AT THE RACES
automates the process of creating the Devere tote board .
The Devere tote board grid is an extraordinary method of visually following the ebb and flow of betting
action, minute-by-minute, from the opening of betting to the close. Starting at 17 minutes to post, the horse
with the most money on the first odds change from the morning line is called the KEY. The KEY is
theoretically the horse to beat (odds-wise) at that point, and its wagering trends will be a point of reference
against which the other horses may be compared throughout the betting until race time.
You will not find much written about Robert Devere or his methods. The TOTE SCREEN was developed
under the direction of Jay Richards. Jay is now retired, but his resume includes (most recently) 10 years as
racing columnist/daily public handicapper for Nevada's largest newspaper, the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He
was publicity and marketing director at Hialeah Park; jockey's agent at Southern Northern California tracks
(his first jockey was Joe Baze, father of perennial NorCal riding champ Russell Baze); conducted several
hundred handicapping seminars in Los Angeles and Las Vegas; taught an accredited course on thoroughbred
handicapping for Clark County Community College (Las Vegas); re-created the entire card of horse races from
all Southern California tracks on a 45-minute radio program in L.A., daily for 15 years. He has also hosted
numerous radio sportstalk shows over the years, many of which were aired nationally by satellite radio
network. He also published, wrote and edited a monthly Christian newspaper several years ago and is very
active in his church. Jay writes:
“Robert Devere was a man who not only developed this tote grid, but an amazing (and extremely
esoteric) method of picking winners consistently with it. He didn't share it with many people because (1) he
discovered/developed the method after years of painstaking work and study and didn't want to simply give it
away, and (2) it is a concept that is so esoteric and complex that it is exceedingly difficult to grasp. Devere
was known to devoted followers around Southern Cal tracks during the 60s and 70s. He would tell interested
parties the basics of what he was doing, but not the details. He used to say, “I'll give you the tools, but I'm
not going to do your digging for you.” At the track, he used to wait until the horses were loaded into the gate
and just a couple of seconds before the gates opened (to prevent others from rushing to the windows and
killing his odds), he'd announce, “The six horse (or whichever horse it was) is going to win.” And
astonishingly, he was correct about nine times out of 10.
54
“He developed a small cult following, of which a close friend and I were members. I met him in '73
and have spent nearly 30 years working on this method with increasing success. But it's been a long, hard
road, albeit a labor of love. According to another member of the “cult following” who knew him well, Devere
(a man well into his sixties) died in the late 70s/early 80s.”
“The method Bob Devere discovered and developed transcends by a furlong any other means of
winner-selection I've ever seen. Devere was to horse race betting what Einstein was to science, and I'm glad
he's now getting recognition, through AT THE RACES, for unlocking the secrets of winner-selection through
the tote board.”
On the first frame of betting action, horses that open at or below their morning lines will be bordered in
red. Horses opening above their morning lines will be bordered in black. The KEY's opening frame will be
a solidly shaded block. An activity frame is one in which a horse's odds have changed from the previous
frame. Activity frames for all horses (except the KEY) will be designated by a diagonal slash through their
frame. The KEY's activity frames will be solidly-shaded blocks, visually setting it apart from the other HORSEs'
betting activity. A hollow frame is one in which there has been no odds change from the previous frame.
The morning line odds also have been color-coded for quick reference: The odds for the morning line favorite
always will be colored red; the second favorite green and the third favorite blue.
The purposes of this betting grid can be many. Primarily, by activity frames and color, the betting
trends of every horse may be tracked in a visually easy yet insightful manner. As just one of countless
examples of how this betting grid can be useful, if the color of the KEY's frame suddenly changes from red to
black (rising in odds), look for horses in the IDENTICAL vertical frame that are colored in red (dropping in
odds).
It may well be an indication as to which horses are strengthening and causing the KEY to weaken. The
importance is not necessarily that a certain horse takes a sudden drop in odds---the more vital question may
be which other horses are affected by it? A quick glance at the Devere tote board grid gives many telltale
clues.
From an odds research standpoint, there's more good news for tote trackers. Certain stables are
known to bet early, while others wager late. ATRpro now makes it possible---for the first time ever---for tote
watchers to compile their own data on betting trends by printing copies of completed betting grids and
storing them for further study. The possibilities are endless. Whichever way you use it, odds are you'll like it!
55
New to Version 5.31 is DEVERE GROUPINGS as designed by Jay Richards...
“Robert Devere maintained...and I have found it to be true...that there is a correlation of strength/weakness in
various situations according to the way horses begin their first two frames. Devere likened it to a family, where
certain horses’ chances can be upgraded or downgraded according to the position of their “family members,” that is,
the other horses in their grouping.
First, let me explain about the groupings. There are six of them:
RB — Red-black — Horses that are red in the opening frame and black in the second.
BR — Black-red — Horses that are black in the opening frame and red in the second.
RR — Red-red — Horses that are red in BOTH the opening and second frames.
BB — Black-black — Horses that are black in BOTH the opening and second frames.
RP — Red-plain — Horses that are red in the opening frame and plain (no odds change) in the second frame.
BP — Black-plain — Horses that are black in the opening frame and plain (no odds change) in the second frame.
Here’s just one of many examples of its value to me: Let’s say I’m considering a horse that’s a black in the opening
frame and a red in the second frame (a BLACK-RED). But I notice there are three other BLACK-REDS like him, and
they are all more than 100 percent overlays at the start (opening frame is more than double their morning line
odds). That would be a distinct negative for that BLACK-RED “family” (grouping), meaning it’s a negative drain on
the horse I’m considering, weakening his chances.
Additionally, the greater the number of horses in any given grouping, the chances of winning are increased to
varying degrees for every horse in that grouping. I know this sounds very esoteric, but believe me, after years of
study and application, I know for a fact the great validity of this angle. How Devere ever discovered it is beyond me,
but I know it works!”
The following slide shows an ATRpro Devere Chart annotated by Jay, followed by slide showing how the Devere
Groupings has now been incorporated in ATRpro.
56
This is an ATRpro Devere Chart annotated by Jay Richards for illustration of Devere Groupings.
57
1
The Version 5.31 TOTE SCREEN with the DEVERE GROUPINGS feature (1) in the original format ATRpro form.
58
1
The Version 5.31 TOTE SCREEN with the DEVERE GROUPINGS feature (1) in the new format ATRpro form.
59
New to V5.48 is a feature for creating Devere tote grid manually. This new form allows users to create the Devere
tote screen when the internet is not available, or when tote updates are not available from the ATRpro tote sources.
The DEVERE MANUAL INPUT form is displayed after clicking on the ‘md' button that appears on the main ATRpro
form. The following slide show how to access and use this new feature.
60
1
2
Access the DEVERE MANUAL INPUT form by clicking on the ‘md' button that appears on the new format main
ATRpro form (1), or the old format main ATRpro form (2). The DEVERE MANUAL INPUT form will then be
displayed.
61
2
The DEVERE MANUAL INPUT form
starts with the default number of 14
entries.
1
3
If there is tote info currently on the
main ATRpro form, the available tote
data can be automatically added to
the DEVERE MANUAL INPUT form
by clicking on the EXTRACT DATA
button (1). The data will then
appear with the appropriate number
of entries for the current race
including the automatic elimination
of any scratches.
Use the TAB or ENTER button on
your keyboard to move from cell to
cell when inputting tote odds.
You can jump back and forth
between this form and the Devere
screen on the main ATRpro form by
clicking on the CREATE DEVERE
TOTE SCREEN button (2) on this
form and the ‘md’ button on the
main ATRpro form. Note that the
FILL GRID WITH RANDOM DATA
button (3) can be used to test out
how this process works.
62
1
2
This is the STATS SCREEN. The STATS SCREEN can always be accessed by hitting the STATS OPTION button (1)
located near the top left of the ATRpro display.
The STATS SCREEN relates the current $2 exacta payoff to a calculated payoff based on the current distribution
of bets in the win pool. This percentage value can be used to look for relative value in the win and exacta pools.
The percentages are in RED if the calculated exacta is higher by at least 25% than the current exacta payoff, and
in BLUE if the calculated exacta is lower by at least 25% than the current payoff.
For example, this display shows that the 1-7 exacta currently pays $46, and that this payoff has a return that is
58% higher than indicated by the distribution of bets in the win pool (2). (The one horse is 7:2 and the 7 horse
is 2:1, so at this point the 1-7 exacta payoff seems generous relative to those win prices.)
63
Daily Double Screens 1/9
1
2
This is the DOUBLE SCREEN that computes double dutch and/or hedge bets. The DOUBLE SCREEN appears
when OPTION 2 is set to YES and the current race is the first part of a daily double. The DOUBLE SCREEN is
accessed by hitting the DOUBLE OPTION button (1) located near the top center of the ATRpro display.
The current daily double payoffs (2) are shown on this screen. The top row shows the program numbers of the
horse in the first half of the double, while the left column shows the program numbers of the horses in the
second half of the double. For example, the current $2 payoff for the 6-9 double is $536.
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1
2
The DOUBLE SCREEN also shows the current $2 win payoffs for the horses in the first half of the double (1) and
the estimated $2 win payoff for the horses in the second half of the double (2). These estimated values (2) are
called the “Look-Back Line” values and are calculated from the current distribution of money bet in the daily
double pool.
The “Look-Back Line” values are saved by ATRpro so that they can also be reported when the second half of the
double comes up as shown in the next slide.
65
1
3
2
This shows the WPS SCREEN (1) for a race that was the second half of a daily double. The “Look-Back Line” values (2)
were calculated from the daily double pool that was started in the previous race. If a "+" sign appears in front of the “LookBack Line” values it means that the actual value may be higher as there was at least one $999 payoff involved in the
calculation (all payoffs higher than $999 are listed as $999 on the Internet). The value at the bottom of the “Look-Back
Line” is the total for the daily double pool ($9,392) that is now closed to new bets.
Similar to the Morning Line, the “Look-Back Line” can be used to estimate the final win odds. Our experience is that the
“Look-Back Line” values are much better at predicting the final odds than the early betting and often better than the
Morning Line. This image was taken when there was 15 Minutes to Post. It can be seen that there is significant difference
between the “Look-Back Line” (2) and the current Win Payoffs (3).
66
3
2
1
The DOUBLE SCREEN can be used to calculate many kinds of dutch bets. Short cuts to creating wheel or back-wheel
dutch bets are available (1). For example, this screen shows the resulting back-wheel bets (2) of the 4 horse in the
second half of the daily double created by simply clicking on the appropriate “4” cell on the back-wheel row.
Additional combinations can be added to the bets by simply clicking on the cell showing the $2 double payoff (3). Any
combinations that have been chosen can be turned from a dutch to a hedge bet by simply clicking on the appropriate $2
payoff cell. A third click on a cell removes that combination from the bet.
Clicking on the action white cell that is labeled “WHEEL” (1) allows the user to easily create part wheel bets as is shown
on the following slide.
67
2
1
This screen demonstrates the Action Cells that are available after clicking on the “WHEEL” cell shown on the previous
slide.
In this mode, clicking on any of the white action cells in the PART-WHEEL TOP HALF or PART-WHEEL BOTTOM HALF
(1) rows causes the creation of part-wheel dutch bets. For example, this screen shows the resulting part-wheel dutch
bets (2) of the 3 and 4 horse in the first half with the 1,4,6 and 8 horse of the second half of the daily double.
68
1
2
This screen demonstrates the use of the LOW Action Cells to produce dutch daily double bets or for just quickly
identifying the lowest paying daily doubles. For example, this screen shows the resulting dutch bets (1) of the four
lowest paying daily doubles created by simply clicking on the LOW 4 action cell (2).
As with any of the dutch bets that are calculated on the EXACTA, DOUBLE, QUINELLA or TRIFECTA SCREENS, the rightmost column shows the current equivalent $2 payback if any of these bets is successful. For example, this screen
shows that dutching the four lowest paying daily doubles has the same potential reward as betting a horse that would
pay about 2:1 or about $6.40 to win.
69
1
2
This screen demonstrates two new features of ATRpro as of Version 3.80: $1 dutch and hedge bets (1), and red
payoffs when bet down from last tote flash (2).
With previous versions the minimum calculated bet was $2. Since many tote services now take $1 straight exotic bets,
the minimum calculated bet can now be set to $1 (see next few slides), making it easier to achieve uniform profits.
The red payoff values highlight those double payoffs that have been bet down since the last tote flash. Setting this
option on/off and defining the percentage bet down value is described on the next few slides.
70
1
The two new options (1) are controlled on the first OPTIONS SCREEN.
71
1
2
3
4
5
Turning on/off the $1 dutch and hedge bets is done by simply clicking on the USE $1 DUTCH EXOTICS (1) checkbox.
This option applies to bets created on the Daily Double, Exacta and Quinella screens.
Similarly, turning on/off the red payoff for bet downs is done by simply clicking on the RED PAYOFFS IF BET DOWN (2)
checkbox. Clicking on this checkbox when it is off, or not checked (3), produces the BET DOWN PERCENTAGE input box
(4). Input the minimum percentage value that the payoff must drop between tote cycles before the payoff values are
colored red. After clicking on the OK button on the BET DOWN PERCENTAGE input box, the caption for the RED
PAYOFFS IF BET DOWN checkbox (5) is now set with the current percentage bet down cutoff value. This option applies
to bets created on the Daily Double, Exacta and Quinella screens.
.
72
Chinese Double Screens 1/2
2
1
Clicking on the SHOW CHINESE DOUBLE VALUES button (1) on the third OPTIONS SCREEN produces the
CHINESE DOUBLE FORM as shown on the next slide.
The CHINESE DOUBLE FORM can be also be automatically created and saved (in image format) with the AUTO
SCREEN CAPTURE form which comes up when OPTION 19 (3) is chosen.
73
Chinese Double Screens 2/2
2
1
3
This is the CHINESE DOUBLE FORM (Thanks David McKenzie). It is available only when the current race is the
second part of a daily double and OPTION 2 had been set to YES during the previous race - the first half of the
daily double.
The “Chinese Double” betting strategy has been around for many years - picking contenders as those horses (2)
with the lowest values (1) calculated by dividing the daily payoffs by the Morning Lines of the horses in the second
half of the double. The CHINESE DOUBLE FORM also includes a second calculation based on Current Odds instead
of the Morning Line (3).
74
‘Will-Pay’ Daily Double and Pick-3 1/2
1
1
2
New to ATRpro Version 4.02 is the ability to retrieve ‘will-pay’ daily double and pick-3 information for the current
race. Retrieve this information by clicking on the CHINESE DD button (1) or the CHINESE PICK3 button (1) on the
third option screen. The new CHINESE PICK-3 FORM is shown on the next slide.
75
‘Will-Pay’ Daily Double and Pick-3 2/2
This is the CHINESE PICK-3 FORM
(thanks Van Marsh) which was
retrieved by clicking on the
CHINESE PICK-3 button on the
third Option screen.
3
2
1
4
The ‘Will-Pay’ Pick-3 values are
shown in the PICK3 PAYS column
(1). Similar to the “Chinese
Double” betting strategy, Chinese
Pick-3 contenders (3) are picked as
those horses with the lowest values
(2) calculated by dividing the pick-3
payoffs by the Morning Lines of the
horses in the third part of the pick3. The CHINESE PICK-3 FORM also
includes a second calculation based
on Current Odds instead of the
Morning Line (4).
While the Chinese Pick-3 strategy
certainly does not work all the time
– the strategy did for this race as
the easy winner (program number
2 as shown in (5)) had the lowest
Will-Pay/Morning-Line value.
5
76
1
2
4
3
This is the EXACTA SCREEN. The EXACTA SCREEN can always be accessed by hitting the EXACTA OPTION button (1)
located near the top center of the ATRpro display.
This screen allows the creation of dutched and/or hedged exacta bets. A mouse click on the WHITE cells that show the
exacta payoff adds the exacta as a dutch bet. A second click turns the bet into a hedge. A third click removes the bet.
The bet amount is easily changed in the exotics bet window in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Exacta wheels, back-wheels and exacta boxes can be created by clicking on the applicable cells. Experimenting with these
buttons is the best way to learn how they work. This image shows the resulting dutch exacta bets (2) of an exacta wheel
of the four horse made by simply clicking on a single cell (3). This screen also has the capability of doing part exacta
wheels. Click on the “wheel” cell (4) to turn the last two rows from exacta wheels and back-wheels to exacta partial wheel.
Another click on that cell (that would then be labeled “PW-Top”) turns the rows back to exacta wheels and back-wheels.
77
1
2
3
This is the QUINELLA SCREEN that computes quinella dutch and/or hedge bets. The QUINELLA SCREEN can always be
accessed by hitting the QUINELLA OPTION button (1) located near the top center of the ATRpro display. Works the
same as the EXACTA SCREEN. This image shows the resulting bets (2) made in a quinella wheel of the four horse by
clicking on the appropriate action cell (3).
The values on the upper right chunk of the Quinella screen are the current Quinella payoffs. The values on the lower
left chunk represent an 'equivalent Quinella' payoff calculated by 'dutching' the current exacta payoffs and calculating
the return for each $2 bet. The 'equivalent' payoffs are shown in red when the combinations are bet significantly more
in the exacta pools than in the quinella pools, and in blue when the combinations are bet significantly more in the
quinella pools than in the exacta pools. So, those payoffs displayed in red indicate that a quinella bet is currently a
better bet than a 'dutched' exacta box.
78
1
3
2
4
This is the TRIFECTA SCREEN that allows the creation of dutched trifecta bets using estimated trifecta payoffs. These
estimated trifecta payoffs are calculated based on the current distribution of bets in the exacta and win pools and are
adjusted based on other factors including morning line odds and field size. These trifecta payoffs are not based on the
current trifecta pool, as that data is not available. The TRIFECTA SCREEN can always be accessed by hitting the
TRIFECTA OPTION button (1) located near the top center of the ATRpro display.
The current display shows the creation of a trifecta wheel of the four horse. This was created by three mouse clicks:
first clicking on the ‘4’ action cell (2) to identify the horse on the top of the trifecta ticket, then clicking on the ‘2nd’
action cell (3) to pick all horses for the middle position on the ticket, and then clicking on the ‘3rd’ action cell (4) to
pick all horses for the bottom position on the ticket.
79
3
1
4
2
New to Version 7.19 is the SUPERFECTA SCREEN that allows the creation of superfecta trifecta bets (1) using
estimated superfecta payoffs. These estimated superfecta payoffs are calculated based on the trifecta bets (2)
described on the previous slide that are further adjusted based on many factors derived in an analysis of the
relationship of historical superfecta payouts to exacta and win pools. Switch from the Trifecta screen to the Superfecta
screen by using Option 3 on the Option Form displayed by clicking on the OPTIONS button (3).
Remember that these superfecta payoffs are estimates and are not based on the current superfecta pool, as that data
is not available. This slide shows the new format ATRpro Form with the creation of a superfecta box of four horses and
includes a display of the minimum and maximum estimated superfecta payouts and potential profit (4). This estimate
of min and max payoffs/profits can be very useful for determining the prudence of wagering with superfectas rather
than the other tote pools.
80
1
A new feature of ATRpro is graphs. The simplest way of accessing the GRAPH FORM is by clicking on the
GRAPH OPTION button (1) located near the top center of the ATRpro display.
These graphs offer a unique view of the betting action and are explained in the following slides.
81
1
3
2
The WIN / ML graph is one of 5 graphs types that are currently available. You can switch between types by simply
clicking on the appropriate option button (1). Each of the graphs display their values on the vertical axis with
minutes to post on the horizontal axis. The current tote odds and ML is also displayed on all graphs (2), which also
gives the color code for each horse program number.
This WIN / ML graph is a derivative of the Devere Tote Grid. The Key Horse is identified with a heavy line (3).
82
1
2
This is the WIN / SHOW graph, chosen by clicking on the W/S OPTION (1). This graph provides a unique
perspective on the betting on a race that several ATRpro users have found very rewarding.
The largest Win/Show value plotted on this graph is 10, as defined by the MAX VALUE OPTION (2) - simply click on
the numerical button to change this value or choose the AUTO option to have all values plotted.
83
1
2
3
4
This is the EXACTA ODDS graph, chosen by clicking on the EXACTA OPTION (1). This values on this graph represent
by-the-minute, BTM, exacta odds. Switch between BTM and tote odds by clicking on the appropriate option (2).
Click on the COPY button (3) to print this form or save an image of this form to file. When printing, it is often worthwhile to click on the COLOR button (4) to change the background to white and save ink.
84
1
2
3
This is the WIN ODDS graph, chosen by clicking on the WIN OPTION (1). Notice how dramatically the odds change
for certain horses.
The settings for this graph are BTM odds (2) with a max value set to 40 (3).
85
1
2
3
4
This is the WIN ODDS graph with tote odds (2) with a max value set to 30 (3). Notice how steady the tote odds are
compared to the BTM odds shown in the last slide.
Returning to the Main ATRpro form is accomplished by clicking on the MAIN FORM button (1). Horses can be
removed from graphs by first stopping updates and then clicking on the HORSES button (4) and choosing the
appropriate horses in the form that pops up.
86
New Format Graph
1
New to V7.65 is the new format graph. This format was
developed to display many of the features that have been
developed and used by tote ‘handicappers’.
You can access the new format by clicking on the new
SWITCH FORMAT button (1) on the original graph. The next
several slides explain the features of the new format graph.
87
New Format Graph
1
2
This is an image of the new format graph, with this image a display of the WIN / MORNING LINE graph type in the
new format. You can also switch between the several types of graphs (WIN, WIN + EXACTA, EXACTA, AND
WIN/SHOW; and between BY THE MINUTE and TOTE; and between AUTO and MANUAL) by clicking on the CHANGE
GRAPH OPTIONS button (2). You can switch back to the original format graph by simply clicking on the SWITCH
FORMAT button (1). The next several slides explain the features of the new format graph.
88
New Format Graph
This WIN / MORNING LINE graph, a derivative of the Devere Tote Grid, appears at first glance to
very busy. Spending a few minutes to learn all that is presented, just like learning how to read the
intricate details in the racing form, can be worthwhile as there is lots of good stuff there.
Colors are used on WIN / MORNING LINE for several purposes as fully described in next few slides:
1. Each data line is colored per the horses program numbers. These colors for each program
number can be changed by the user and saved for future sessions. Program numbers are also
placed to the right and left of each data line.
2. The current odds table includes a color coded column with the program number cells shaded to
reflect the colors used in the data lines. The current odds table is sorted by current tote odds.
3. The current odds table also includes a color coded column for the win/morning line values. This
shaded cells quickly show the current trend of morning line overlays/underlays for the favorites
or longer price horses.
4. The current win payoff table indicates the top four current tote favorites by colored fonts for the
to-the-penny prices. The current win payoff table is sorted by program numbers.
5. The top four tote favorites at each minute to post are identified by colored dots on the data lines.
These colored dots enables you to quickly see the flow of the money by seeing the changing
position of the tote favorites. In addition, the top four current tote favorites are identified by
colored dots to the right of the data lines.
6. The opening position of the top four Morning Line Favorites are indentified by colored arrows to
the left of the data lines. These arrows provide a quick way to determine if the betting has
started out as expected.
89
New Format Graph
1
Each of the new format graphs display their values on the vertical axis with minutes to post on the horizontal axis. The
graphs either start at 20 or 12 minutes to post and extend to as many as 10 post time (0 mtp) values. Each data line is
colored per the horses program numbers. The current odds table includes a color coded column with the program number
cells shaded to reflect the colors used in the data lines (1). These colors for each program number can be changed by the
user and saved for future sessions. Program numbers are also placed to the right and left of each data line.
90
New Format Graph
The position of the top four tote favorites at each minute to post are identified by colored dots on data lines, with
1st= red, 2nd= green, 3rd= blue, and 4th= orange. For example, the bottom data line for the 9 horse, shows a series
of red dots (indicating tote favorite for those mtps), then blue dots (3rd favorite) and an orange dot (4th favorite).
These colored dots enables you to quickly see the flow of the money by seeing the changing position of the tote
favorites.
91
New Format Graph
1
The new format graph displays current tote odds in two tables: sorted by current tote odds, and sorted by post
position. The odds table sorted by current tote odds (1) includes: the program numbers using the color code for
each horses data line, the Morning Line odds, the Current Odds (rounded up to nearest tenth), and the ratio of the
Current Odds divided by the Morning Line odds. The current odds/morning line values are color coded column
(negative % = pink, positive % = gray, near 0% = white). These shaded cells quickly show the current trend of
morning line overlays/underlays for the favorites or longer price horses.
92
New Format Graph
1
The current odds table sorted by post position (1) includes the win payoffs to the penny whose font are color coded
for the top four current tote favorites (1st= red, 2nd= green, 3rd= blue, and 4th= orange).
93
New Format Graph
1
2
The opening position of the top four Morning Line Favorites are indentified by colored arrows to the left of the data
lines (1). These arrows (1st= red, 2nd= green, 3rd= blue, and 4th= orange) provide a quick way to determine if the
betting has started out as expected.
The top four current tote favorites are identified by similarly colored dots to the right of the data lines (2).
94
New Format Graph
Tote watchers have long known the value of the morning line odds in interpreting the tote. The data
lines on the WIN / MORNING LINE graph are the flow of the win tote values that have been
normalized by dividing by the morning line odds. These normalized lines demonstrate the status of
each horses win betting relative to what odds was expected.
ATRpro has several features that allow the user to account for scratches by changing the original
morning line values, either manually or automatically, that are described in the MORNING LINE
section of this documentation.
New to Version 7.70 is the feature to automatically ‘notch down’ the morning line values to account
for scratches, a method that some tote watchers favor rather than reducing all morning line values
proportionately. This method ensures that all morning line values used reflect values that actually
match values used by morning line odds creators – eliminating values such as 13:1 which are never
used on track programs or tote boards.
The ‘notch down’ process starts by reducing the morning line favorites ML odds by one notch (that is
3:1 to 5:2), and then continues with the second morning line favorite and so on until the total
probability of all entries morning line values increases to a total probability value that accounts for the
track takeout. Turn on the ‘notch down’ feature by simply choosing the NOTCH option of Option 16 on
the OPTIONS FORM.
The user can also substitute their own odds values for the ML odds, or can easily substitute odds
values such as the Kline odds values from a HTR2 software export. Documentation for these features
are covered in the MORNING LINE section or the USING THE KLINE ODDS section.
95
New Format Graph
The best way to determine the value of the ATRpro graphs is to create a database of graph images. This can
be done manually by clicking on the COPY button on any ATRpro form or graph.
Clicking the Option 19 OPTIONS button produces the above form for the automatic saving of graphs. Choosing
the chosen options shown on the form ensures that you will have a copy of the Win/Morning Line Graph at the
last tote flash!
96
2
3
1
To get and display data for all the tracks listed on the TRACK LIST GRID (1) once, click on the CYCLE ONCE
button (3), while click on the CYCLE AND DISPLAY ALL TRACKS ON TRACK LIST OFTEN button to get the
data with automatic continuous updates and displays all the tracks data (CONTINUOUS MODE).
97
1
2
This image shows the screen after the user clicked on the CYCLE AND DISPLAY ALL TRACKS ON TRACK LIST OFTEN
button. At this point, ATRpro will download data continuously. Once in this CONTINUOUS MODE, you must click on
one of the STOP buttons (1) or (2) to freeze the data. Notice that the minutes to post (MTP) for all the tracks on the
TRACK LIST GRID have been updated and the tracks have been sorted according to which tracks are closest to post.
98
1
2
3
The GET DATA FOR ALL TRACKS ON TRACK LIST, DISPLAY ONLY AQUEDUCT button (1) is a very useful way of using ATRpro.
Clicking on this mode allows the user to concentrate on the data for one track, while ATRpro continues to retrieve data for all
tracks in the background. Also, the MINI CYCLE ONCE button (2) provides a quick way of finding the minutes to post (MTP) for
all the tracks on the track list.
The RESULTS BUTTON (3) is also shown in the lower right portion of the screen. It is only shown when using the R or S TRACK
LIST and automatic Internet updates are off. The next slide shows its use with the R TRACK LIST.
99
1
1
3
The Message Box (1) is displayed when the RESULTS BUTTON is clicked when using the R TRACK LIST (see
previous slide). The top three finishers for previous races for the current track are shown.
The next slide shows the RESULTS FORM that is displayed when the RESULTS BUTTON is clicked when using
the S TRACK LIST.
100
The RESULTS FORM is displayed when the RESULTS BUTTON is clicked when using the S TRACK LIST. The
Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Quinella and Double horses and payoffs are shown for all races for all tracks on the
TRACK LIST GRID on the HOME SCREEN.
101
1
The tracks in the TRACK LIST GRID can be modified by the TO CREATE/MODIFY THE TRACK LIST frame
(1) on the HOME SCREEN.
102
1
2
This image shows a new form that appears when the REMOVE TRACKS FROM TRACK LIST button on the
HOME SCREEN is clicked. Simply clicking on any track on the TRACK LIST (1) on the right side of the form
removes them from the TRACK LIST. Click on the PROCESS NEW TRACK LIST AND EXIT button (2) when
done. This form also contains options to maintain a list of tracks (saved in a file named MyTracks.txt) that
can be used to quickly filter tracks from the TRACK LIST.
103
1
2
3
4
5
This image shows the updated TRACK LIST GRID (1) after several tracks have been removed. Notice also the GET
ONCE button (2), the GET OFTEN (3) button, the CYCLE ONCE button (4) and the MINI CYCLE button (5) located on
the lower right side of the ATRpro screen. These button provide an easy way to perform the functions of some of the
buttons on the HOME SCREEN while ATRpro is displaying one of the other screens.
104
1
2
3
The UP (1) and DOWN (2) buttons are an easy way to go from one track on the TRACK LIST
to another. They provide another way to perform some of the functions of some of the
buttons on the HOME SCREEN while ATRpro is displaying one of the other screens.
The TIMERS button (3) is an important command for ATRpro as described on the next slide.
105
1
4
2
3
The TIMER DELAY form establishes how often ATRpro refreshes data from the Internet. As ATRpro does not
respond to most user actions during Internet update periods, it is important to minimize how often the data is
accessed but not at the expense of losing data. It is recommended that each user experiment with different
delay values to find what works best for their use of ATRpro.
The labels explain the impact of each of the Options (1 through 4) .
106
Pause Button
1
2
New to Version 5.65 is the PAUSE command button, shown here on both the old format main form (1), and the new
format main form (2).
This new feature gives you two ways to spend extended time with the current tote data screens without interruption
from new tote data: either click one of the STOP buttons which freezes the data on the ATRpro forms but requires you to
restart the tote download process by clicking on the appropriate action buttons, or click the PAUSE button which
suspends tote downloads until you simply click the PAUSE button a second time to resume CONTINUOUS MODE.
107
1
New to Version 4.38 is the ONE STEP TRACK SELECT Toolbar (OSTS) which provides a quicker and easier way to
switch between tracks. Simply click on the OSTS button (1), located near the top right of the ATRpro display, to
get the OSTS toolbar as shown on the next slide.
108
1
2
The OSTS toolbar (1)
is displayed in the top
right hand corner of
the windows desktop.
The OSTS toolbar is
separate from the
ATRpro display and
can be moved about
the desktop by
grabbing and dragging
its top caption bar.
The OSTS toolbar has
an action TRACK
button corresponding
to each of the tracks
listed on the TRACK
LIST (2) on the
ATRpro HOME
SCREEN.
109
1
3
2
Clicking on an action
TRACK button on the
OSTS toolbar retrieves
current tote information
for that track.
Clicking once on the
OSTS toolbar’s
PHILADELPHIA PARK
action button (1) is
equivalent to clicking on
the Track Name on the
TRACK LIST (2) on the
ATRpro HOME SCREEN
and then clicking on the
GET ONCE button (3).
It can be a real time
saver when working
with the other ATRpro
displays as detailed on
the next slides.
110
2
1
This is the display of the
WPS SCREEN, obtained
by clicking on the WPS
SCREEN OPTION button
(1) located immediately
below the STATUS BAR.
Changing the WPS
SCREEN display from
Philadelphia Park to
Beulah is easily
accomplished by clicking
on the OSTS toolbar’s
BEULAH PARK action
button (1). The resulting
display is shown on the
next slide.
111
Without using the OSTS
toolbar, getting from the
WPS SCREEN display of
Philadelphia Park to
Beulah would involve 4
steps:
(1) Clicking on the HOME
SCREEN Option button.
(2) Clicking on the Beulah
Park listing on the TRACK
LIST on the Home Screen.
(3) Clicking on the GET
ONCE button on the
Home Screen.
(4) Clicking on the WPS
SCREEN Option button.
Thanks Nancy for this
time saving idea.
112
Getting to the Option Form
1
Getting to the Option Screens changed in Version 4.13. Now click on the OPTIONS button (1), located near
the top right of the ATRpro display, to get to the OPTION FORM as shown on the next slide.
113
Option Screen #1
2
1
This is the OPTION FORM, with a display of the first of four OPTIONS SCREENs. The OPTION SCREENs can be
accessed by hitting one of the OPTION SCREEN tab (1) located near the top of the OPTION FORM display. Almost
all the options on this form are automatically saved for the next session.
Return to the main ATRpro form from the OPTION FORM by clicking on the RETURN TO MAIN FORM button (2).
114
Option Screen #1
3
4
1
2
The PRINT CURRENT DATA button (1) prints the win, place, show, odds, exacta, and quinella data for the current track.
The SAVE CURRENT DATA TO FILE button (2) saves the win, place, show, odds, exacta, and quinella data for the
current track to a file. The data is in comma delimited format, or “csv”, that can be imported into standard spreadsheet
programs like Microsoft Excel. The program assigns a name to that file based on the tracks name and the date. The
name and location of this file is displayed when the SAVE DATA BUTTON is clicked. Additional data is appended to this
file the next time the SAVE DATA BUTTON is clicked. The SAVE DATA BUTTON appears only when updating from the
Internet is stopped. However, data can saved automatically during CONTINUOUS DOWNLOAD MODE. See Option 11.
The START WINDOWS EXPLORER button (3) brings up windows explorer with a view of all the data files saved by
ATRpro. Clicking on the data file will probably bring it up in a spreadsheet program if one is installed on your computer.
The SUPERFECTA CALCULATOR (4) button brings up the $1 Superfecta Cost calculator shown in the next slide.
115
Option Screen #1
This $1 Superfecta Cost
Calculator is a quick way to
determine the cost of
adding plays to a
superfecta ticket.
1
For example, adding one
more horse to the third slot
on the ticket shown
(accomplished by simply
clicking on one of the blank
boxes in the “3rd” column
shown next to the red 1 in
a circle) increases the cost
of this ticket from $108 to
$135, while adding one
more horse to the 1st slot
would increase this ticket
to a range of $144 to $188
depending on which
number is chosen..
116
Option Screen #1
1
3
2
6
4
5
The MORNING LINE OPTIONS button (1) produces the MORNING LINE FORM. ATRpro can make M/Ls realistic meaning that it will adjust the M/L odds so that they represent a plausible tote scenario. This is very useful when
there are late scratches. Click on the MAKE ALL M/L REALISTIC option (3) to perform this function for all races
automatically. Alternatively, you can perform this function for a single race by clicking on the MAKE THIS M/L
REALISTIC button (6). See the next slide for more info about the MORNING LINE form.
117
Option Screen #1
The MORNING LINE FORM provides a versatile way of either manually changing the morning line (M/L) or
reading in the M/L data from an existing file.
Click on any of the input boxes next to the Program Numbers (circle #2 in previous slide) to manually change the
M/L.
Click on the READ IN MORNING LINES FROM MLINPUT.TXT FILE button (circle #4 in previous slide) to read in
the M/L data. These M/L values will supersede any values downloaded from the Internet tote boards. This
feature allows the ATRpro user to easily import their own odds lines that has been generated by their
handicapping program. The Mlinput.txt file must be in comma separated format. The format of this data is must
be:
Track Name, Race Number, Morning Line Odds for each horse separated by commas (20 values)
There must be 20 values for M/L odds even if there are fewer horses in the race - simply have a 0 for each
program number that is not used. This file can contain M/L data for one race or all races for one or many tracks.
Clicking on the EDIT MLINPUT.TXT FILE button (circle #5 in previous slide) provides a simple way of making
changes or manually creating the data file. Here is an example of M/L data in the Mlinput.txt file:
Santa Anita,3,2,9,0,8,50,50,50,3.5,5,5,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
Aqueduct,1,12,5,3,18,5,4,1,0,5,5,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
Starting in ATRpro Version 2.51, it is possible to input the morning line odds for each of the horses in an entry,
with ATRpro using the appropriate combination of these odds if all parts of the entry run or if any part of the
entry is scratched. (See the Scratch Section of this manual to see how ATRpro can automatically determine partof-entry scratches). The format of inputting the entry odds is:
* Program Number * Odds * Program Number * Odds …
118
Option Screen #1
For example, a three horse entry could be entered as *1*3*1A*10*1B*4 where the 1 horse has odds of
3:1, the 1A has odds of 10:1 and the 1B has odds of 4:1. This string is simply substituted where the
single odds value would normally go in the input line as follows:
Aqueduct,1, *1*3*1A*10*1B*4 ,5,3,18,5,4,1,0,5,5,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0
If all three of the entry horses in this example run, the ATRpro will display an odds value representing
the combined probability of the three horses - a value of about 2.85 for the combination of 3:1, 10:1 and
4:1.
ATRpro uses the following logic for finding matches between the Track Name downloaded from the
Internet and the Track Name in the Mlinput.txt file:
1) ignores upper and lower case
2) ignores phrases such as a leading "the " and closing " park", " raceway" and " downs"
3) only looks for letter matches up to the number of letters in whichever name has less letters
So if the Internet name for a track is "The Meadowlands”, ATRpro will match that track with the track
name in the Mlinput.txt file of "Meadowlands" and "Mea" and "Meadow" but not "Meadows”.
The following Track Name abbreviations are also recognized and automatically matched to the
appropriate track: AP, ARP, ASD, ATL, BM, MF ,BRD, CBY, CD, CLM, CLS, CNL, CRC, CT, CWF, DED, DEP,
DMR, DUE, ED, ELP, EMD, EUR, EVD, FAX, FE, FER, FG, FH, FL, FLG, FMT, FNO, FP, FPX, FTP, FX, GBF, GF,
GG, GLD, GLN, GP, GPR, GRM, GRP, GS, GTW, GV, HAP, HOU, HPO, HST, KD, KIN, LA, LAD, LNN, LRL, LS,
MAR, MD, MED, MEP, MEX, MID, MNR, MPM, MTH, MTP, NMP, NP, OP, OTC, OXM, PHA, PLN, PM, PMT,
PPM, PRM, PW, RB, RD, RKM, RP, SFE, SH, SJD, SND, SOP, SPT, SR, SRP, STK, STL, STP, SUD, SWF, TDN,
TP, TRM, TRY, TUP, WDS, WIL, WRD, YD, YM.
119
Option Screen #1
2
1
The GROUP ODDS button (1) brings up the GROUP ODDS BETTING SYSTEM form (2). The basic purpose of this feature
is to monitor groups of horses, chosen by their odds ranking, for times when their 'dutched odds' provide a reasonable
return. The Group Odds concept was developed by Joe Verra.
Once this feature is turned on, all races displayed on ATRpro will be monitored to determine if the Group Odds criteria is
met. If desired, ATRpro will automatically submit the bets when the criteria is met.
The Group Odds feature is also useful if you like to monitor races when either the favorite or first two or three choices
either are at very low odds or relatively high odds. For example, you can use this feature to be alerted when:
1) the favorite's odds is at relatively high value by monitoring the 1st choice.
2) the favorite's odds is at a very low value by monitoring the 2nd or 2nd/3rd choices.
120
Option Screen #1
2
3
4
1
The first step in using the Group Odds feature is to define the minimum odds for the horses, chosen by their odds
ranking, that will be monitored. This is accomplished by keying in these values in the MINIMUM ODDS and the RANK
OF HORSES TO BET text boxes (1). Values are assigned based on field size.
Then define when the odds will be checked by defining the Minutes to Post value in the MTP text box (2). Save these
values for future sessions by clicking on the SAVE THESE VALUES button (3), and retrieve saved values by clicking on
the READ IN SAVED VALUES (3) button.
121
Option Screen #1
1
2
3
The second step in using the Group Odds feature is to define whether the races will be monitored only or whether bets
will be automatically submitted when a race meets the Group Odds criteria. Check the MONITOR WITHOUT
SUBMITTING BETS button (1) and the SOUND ALARM button (2) to monitored all races with audio/visual alarms, with
info saved to the GROUP ODDS display screen (3).
122
Option Screen #1
1
2
The easiest way to learn Group Odds is for you to turn on the MONITOR WITHOUT SUBMITTING BETS button (1) and
the SOUND ALARM button (2) on the Group Odds page and then continually cycle through the tracks that you are
interested in. An alarm will appear whenever the 'dutched odds' of the group of horses exceed the odds value on the
Group Odds form. In addition to the alarm function, each races stats are displayed on the Group Odds form for later
review. The next slide shows the display after several races have been monitored.
123
Option Screen #1
3
1
2
This is the display of info GROUP ODDS display screen (1) for a series of races that have been monitored to see if they
met the Group Odds criteria defined on this form. When the criteria is met, theoretical dutched bets totaling $50 are
shown. The info displayed can be saved to file or printed by clicking on the appropriate button (2).
Check the TURN BETS ON check box (3) to automatically submit bets that meet the Group Odds Criteria. The next slide
shows the resulting GROUP ODDS FORM display.
124
Option Screen #1
1
2
This shows the GROUP ODDS FORM when automated bets have been turned on so that ATRpro automatically submit bets
that meet the Group Odds Criteria. The TURN BETS ON check box displays “BETS ARE NOW ON” (1) when turned on. This
feature is available only to registered users.
The CHOOSE BET ALLOCATION options (2) will be displayed when the bets feature is turned on. The choice is to place
dutched bets with a defined total amount, equal bets with a defined total amount, or defined bet amounts for each of the
ranked horses based on their odds ranking and the field size.
125
Option Screen #1
3
1
2
The CHANGE BACKGROUND COLOR button (1) switches ATRpro from the default color to white and back.
Switching to white is useful to save ink when printing out images of ATRpro.
The MAKE ATRpro INVISIBLE button (2) has a similar function to the MINIMIZE button (3), located near the top
right of the ATRpro screen, of moving ATRpro from the desktop to the taskbar. The MINIMIZE button does not
stop any ATRpro actions: ATRpro continues to download Internet data, checks for spot plays and saves data to file
or saves images of the display if the appropriate options are set. The difference is that while the MAKE ATRpro
INVISIBLE button continues to download Internet data for the tracks, it ignores the options to save data or
images. With version 2.31, ATRpro will check for spot plays in Invisible Mode.
126
Option Screen #1
Option # 2: Display Daily Double and Quinella data. The user can control whether ATRpro retrieves and
displays Daily Double and Quinella data. Choosing NO to this Option 1 and/or Option 2 has the advantage
of reducing the time it takes to retrieve and display win data.
Option # 3: Display estimated Trifecta data or Superfecta data or Exacta and Double Trends.
Trifecta - means that AT THE RACES will calculate and show the estimated payoffs on the TRIFECTA
SCREEN, and trifecta bets can be created and then printed or exported.
Superfecta – means that in addition to displaying trifectas, superfecta bets can be created and then printed
or exported.
Exacta and Double Trends – means that the exacta or double will pays for each minute of tote action are
shown. See section on Trends later in this documentation for more info.
127
Option Screen #1
Option # 4: Options for coloring cells. The user has a choice of whether AT THE RACES either colors the
cell backgrounds or colors the data in the various display screens or no coloring at all. SHADE means color
the background. The best way to determine which is best for you is to just try one out.
Option # 5: Show track screens when cycling. The user has a choice of when AT THE RACES displays
track SCREEN data during cycling. When set to ANY, the data is always displayed. Otherwise, the data is
displayed only when there is less than the minutes to post shown on the BUTTON in the Option #5 frame.
The value for the MTP can be changed by clicking on the BUTTON. Choosing the option “< and no OFF”
means that once track betting has stopped (MTP=OFF), it will also not be displayed.
Option # 6: Display to penny the Win, Place and Show payoffs. A YES means that AT THE RACES will
display the current payoffs to the penny, ignoring the track breakage. This option is not available when
Option 20 is set to output data as payoffs are always shown to penny in that mode.
128
Option Screen #2
1
This is the OPTION FORM with a display of the second of the four OPTIONS SCREENs. The second OPTION
SCREEN is accessed by clicking on the SECOND OPTIONS SCREEN OPTION tab (1) after displaying the OPTION
FORM by clicking on the OPTIONS button which is located near the top right of the ATRpro display.
129
Option Screen #2
1
These options involve the creation of Spot Plays Alarms. ATRpro will sound a visual and an audio alarm for
spot plays. The spot play alarms allows the user to be alerted when certain conditions are met. This feature
is useful for players looking for value plays – for horses that go off at higher odds than the player thinks they
should be at. When a race comes up that meets the criteria of track, race, horse, mtp and odds, then a
window pops up and bugle music is played (if the appropriate Option is set to on). This feature has been
requested by a number of users so that they do not have to constantly monitor the tote. The spot plays can
be created within an ATRpro screen, or by importing a list of alarms from a “.txt” file that the user creates
manually or from his own software.
The user can create a spot play alarm on the fly by simply clicking on the ALARM grid (1) on the second
OPTIONS screen and then responding to the pop-up form that is displayed to produce the spot play. This
Spot Play Form is discussed on the next few slides.
130
Option Screen #2
1
This is the Spot Plays Form that became available in ATRpro Version 2.50. With this form, the user is able to
create spot plays on the fly or import them from a previously created file. New to V5.15 is the option to have
Spot Play alarms automatically emailed (1) – See Email Slides later in these docs for further information.
131
Option Screen #2
1
2
The user is able to import alarms using a file saved as “spotplays.txt” in the PITZ directory by clicking on the
LOAD SPOT PLAYS FILE button (1). The format of this file is the track name, the race number, the horse
program number, and the minimum acceptable odds. An example of a spot play would be “cd,4,3,2.5”. This
spot play is for the 3 horse in the fourth race at Churchill Downs with acceptable odds of at least 2.5:1. An easy
way to create this “spotplays.txt” file is to click on the EDIT SPOT PLAYS FILE button (2).
The track name should be the accepted abbreviation like CD for Churchill Downs. See the explanation on the
Morning Line Form slide for details on using track abbreviations.
132
Option Screen #2
3
4
2
1
The user is able to create spot plays on-the-fly by filling out the ADD/CHANGE SPOT PLAY input box (1) on the
SPOT PLAY form.
The spot plays created by either importing from a file or created on-the-fly are displayed on the SPOT PLAY
LIST (2). The user can delete a single spot play that is on this list by clicking on appropriate spot play line on
the SPOT PLAY LIST and then clicking on the REMOVE CURRENT SPOT PLAY button (3). Similarly, the user can
delete all spot plays on the SPOT PLAY LIST by clicking on the REMOVE ALL SPOT PLAYS button (4).
133
Option Screen #2
The SPOT PLAY FORM also has the following options that will effect both spot play and tote alarms.
Option # 7: MTP to start checking Spot Plays and Tote Systems. The user has a choice of when AT THE
RACES begins to look to see if any spot play criteria has been met. The value for the MTP can be changed from
the default value of 15 minutes by clicking on the the BUTTON in the Option #7 frame.
Option # 8: Play music for spot play and tote system alarms. The user has a choice of whether bugle music
is played when spot play criteria is met. This music is in addition to the yellow Pop-Up screen that is displayed.
YES - play the bugle music; NO - do not play the bugle music. Note that if the form is minimized, then the
yellow Pop-Up screen will appear but the music alarm will not be heard. Note that the user can change the
bugle sound to another sound by creating their own “.wav” file, saving it as “spotplays.wav” and copying it into
the PITZ directory.
Option # 9: Show/sound alarm only one time. The user has a choice of whether the spot play alarm is
repeated. YES - means that AT THE RACES will continue to post the alarm every time the tote information is
updated unless the user turns off the alarm by clicking on the appropriate “turn off the alarm” button on the
spot play alarm Pop-Up Screen. If NO is chosen, then the Pop-Up Screen will appear only once.
Option # 10: Show/sound alarm with <1 MTP. The user has a choice of whether AT THE RACES continues to
look for spot play alarms when there is less than one MTP. This choice is given for those users who do not have
time to place a bet with less than 1 MTP.
Option # 23: Automatically remove expired Spot Plays. The user has a choice of whether AT THE RACES
deletes spot plays after the race is over.
134
Option Screen #2
The user can exit the SPOT PLAYS FORM in three ways - by clicking on the appropriate button on the bottom of
the form.
Clicking on the EXIT - CYCLE AND DISPLAY ALL TRACKS ON TRACK LIST OFTEN button exits the form and
immediately starts cycling through the track list. Using this button, or the EXIT - GET DATA AND DISPLAY
TRACK OFTEN button, allows the user to save a few seconds in the steps of clicking to the HOME SCREEN and
hitting the CYCLE button.
135
Option Screen #2
Option # 11: Auto save data when < this MTP. The user can have AT THE RACES save data for every
track for all data with less than a defined minutes to post (MTP). The data is saved in a directory named
“PITZ” using a file name description that includes the track name and current date. The data is in comma
delimited format, or “csv”, that can be imported into standard spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel.
This option automates the action of the SAVE DATA BUTTON. The value for the MTP can be changed from
the default value of 2 minutes by clicking on the the BUTTON in the Option #11 frame.
Option # 12: Save Trifecta data during auto-save. The user also save the estimated Trifecta payoff data.
Checking YES for this option means that the trifecta data will be saved during either automatic (see Option
11) or manual (SAVE DATA BUTTON) saves."
136
Option Screen #2
Option # 13: Checking any of the listed tote systems causes an “alarm” message on the STATUS BAR
whenever a play occurs and a pop-up “alarm” to sound at the minute mark chosen in Option 7, along with a
sound “alarm” if the PLAY MUSIC option is chosen in Option 8. Note that the user can change the default
alarm sound to another sound by creating their own “.wav” file, saving it as “tote.wav” and copying it into
the PITZ directory.
Clicking on the “save alarms to toteAlarm.txt” check box will save a record of all plays from these tote alarms
systems to a file in the PITZ directory.
The six Tote Systems are described on the following slides.
137
Option Screen #2
THE ODD MAN tote system (thanks Peter Manti).
This is from a small-stable but highly successful Washington state/Northern California trainer whose only wagers,
aside from his own rides, was this play. The idea is to compare the top three Morning Line favorites for the race to
the top three betting favorites. If they are identical to the three from the Morning Line, you have no Odd Man. If,
however, you now have one and only one new favorite among the three (two of them being part of the original
morning Line three), you have an Odd Man.
When an Odd Man shows up, then the message “OM” will be shown on the STATUS BAR to the right of the track,
race number, MTP and date (if THE ODD MAN check box is checked).
The Odd Man is a very strong play as it is and should not be left out of any exotic wager, and is well-suited for
place/show parlays.
A mere glance at the past performances, almost too little to call it handicapping, further strengthens the play if any
of the following pertain: One of the track's top 7-10 trainers is handling the Odd Man. The jockey up today won
with this horse before. There is a change involved in today's race from last out (class, distance, surface, equipment,
to a top or known go-to jockey, to a bug boy with weight off, etc.). The horse is back today in 15 or fewer days
from last race. The track is off today, and especially if this race was switched from turf to dirt. The third section
above comprises my own tighteners, with the last condition especially potent: I will quintuple my usual bet when the
play occurs with an off track. The rationale for this is that many trainers attempt to scratch their no-chance mounts
but some are forced to leave them in: comprising what is known as “The Stuck List”. The backstretch compares
notes and knows who these are. Those not on this list and racing are generally truly live. I sometimes managed a
peak at the list at the old Arlington Park and could hardly wait for a rainy day, and then for me it rained money.
Neither the beginning odds of a horse that eventually becomes an Odd Man, nor its final odds (provided they are
still among the three betting favorites), seems to affect the play. It may occasionally happen that your original Odd
Man is replaced by another at the last minute or two: that is fine: play the new one. If, however, you do not have
any two of the original ML favorites within the top 3 betting favorites at the time you would place your wager, pass.
138
Option Screen #2
THE HALF MORNING LINE tote system.
Sounds alarm whenever there is at least one horse whose current win odds are less than or equal to 50%
(default value) of their morning line value. The default value of half (or 0.5) can be changed using the input box
that pops up when this option is chosen. When a HALF MORNING LINE shows up, then the message “m/l” will
be shown on the STATUS BAR to the right of track, race number, MTP and date (if the HALF MORNING LINE
check box is checked).
It is recommended that the user adjust the morning line values for late scratches, using the MORNING LINE
form, to get the most value out of this tote system. Also, inputting “home-grown” morning line values, using the
MORNING LINE form, makes this a very versatile tote system.
THE TWICE MORNING LINE tote system .
Sounds alarm whenever there is at least one horse whose current win odds are greater than or equal to
twice (default value) their morning line value. The default value of twice (2.0) can be changed using the input
box that pops up when this option is chosen. Only horses with Morning Line values up to 12:1 are normally
considered in this system - to change this default, simply uncheck the SOUND 2xML ALARM ONLY WHEN ML
<=12 option in the OPTION 13 box.
When a TWICE MORNING LINE shows up, then the message “M/L” will be shown on the STATUS BAR to the
right of track, race number, MTP and date (if the TWICE MORNING LINE check box is checked).
Similar to the HALF MORNING LINE tote system, adjusting the Morning Line values for scratches is
recommended.
THE FOUR FAVORITE tote system.
Sounds alarm whenever there is at least four horses who have been a “by-the-minute” favorite at least
once. ATRpro users have found that these “wide-open” betting affairs often produce profitable exotic returns by
leaving the betting favorite out of their plays. The theory is that the lack of conviction by the bettors of the
betting favorite indicates that he is a poor value.
139
Option Screen #2
THE XTREME FAVORITE tote system.
Sounds alarm whenever the favorites odds are
less than a specified value. When the XTREME
FAVORITE checkbox is clicked, an Input Box appears
to define the minimum odds value to set off the
alarm.
THE BRIDGE JUMPER tote system.
Sounds alarm whenever any horse’s show
pool exceeds a specified percentage of the total
show pool. When the BRIDGE JUMPER checkbox
is clicked, an Input Box appears to define the
minimum percentage of the show pool to set off
the alarm.
140
Option Screen #2
Option # 14: Include Hedge Dollars in Win Price Calculation. Choosing this option shows the impact of the
user's BET GRID SCREEN bets on the win pool, especially important at tracks with small Win Pools or on
horses with long odds. When this option is chosen, the new Win Price, or win odds, is displayed in the BET
GRID SCREEN. The user changes the amount in the WIN BET BOX.
Option # 15: Display place and show bets for this +% expectation. Choosing this option to show how
much money could currently be bet into the place and show pools and still maintain the theoretical
expectation advantage. The percent value of the advantage is set in the input box that is part of Option 15,
and allowable values are from 0 to 50 percent. The default is 10 percent.
141
Option Screen #3
1
This is the OPTION FORM with a display of the third of the four OPTIONS SCREENs. The third OPTION SCREEN is
accessed by clicking on the THIRD OPTIONS SCREEN OPTION tab (1) after displaying the OPTION FORM by
clicking on the OPTIONS button which is located near the top right of the ATRpro display.
142
Option Screen #3
Option # 16: Make all Morning Line Odds realistic. Now ATRpro can automatically adjust M/L Odds based
on scratches. Using this option may result in changes to the M/L odds even if there are no scratches,
indicating that M/L odds are sometimes not realistic. Changing this value is equivalent to checking the
identical option on the MORNING LINE Form.
Option # 17: Show ratios instead of place and show pools. (Thanks Diane Morin.)
Choosing this option changes the display on the WPS SCREEN: instead of showing the amount bet on each
horse to place and show, “normalized” or “true” ratios of the amount bet on the horse to win relative to the
place or show pool is shown. If the “normalized” option is chosen, these ratios are normalized by dividing by
the ratio of the total win pool to the total place (or show pool). A “normalized” ratio value greater than one
indicates that relative to the average horse, more is bet on that horse to win than in the place or show pool.
(The choice of “normalized” or “true” also effects the display of W/S values on the ODDS SCREEN.) The
theory is that the smart money bets more on horses to win than in the place or show pools.
143
Option Screen #3
Option # 18: Display 'Devere' graphics on TOTE screen. Choosing the FULL option produces a graphics display on the
TOTE SCREEN. This screen shows the history of tote board odds for each horse from 17 minutes to post. The graphics
look best at a screen resolution of 1024x768 and small fonts. (Changing these display values are described below.)
Choosing the BRIEF option displays the 'Devere' graphics with all columns removed that have no data for that minute for
that track
Changing Screen Resolution to 1024x768 and small font setting:
(1) Minimize all programs.
(2) Position the mouse cursor on an empty portion of the desktop.
(3) Click on the right mouse button.
(4) A popup screen should show up.
(5) Click the left mouse button on the “properties” menu choice.
(6) A new popup screen should show up.
(7) Click the left mouse button on the “settings” tab on the top the new popup screen.
(8) Move the mouse cursor to the “screen area” box that is now on the lower corner of the popup screen.
(9) Use the left mouse button to drag the cursor in that box until the caption gives the value: 1024x768.
(10) Click the left mouse button on the ok button on the bottom of the screen.
(11) Respond to any popup menus that show up by clicking the left mouse button on “ok” or “yes”.
Repeat steps 1 through 7
(8) Click the left mouse button on the “advanced” box.
(9) Click the left mouse button on the drop down menu to change “large fonts” to “small fonts”.
(10) Click the left mouse button on “ok” or “yes” to accept the changes on all the pop-up windows.
144
Option Screen #3
Clicking on the YES or the OPTIONS BUTTON for OPTION 19 pops up the AUTO SCREEN CAPTURE form. The
user now has the capability to automate the copying or printing of screen images of any or all of the ATRpro
screens and graphs, independent of the ATRpro screen the user is using. These screen captures can be are
made even if ATRpro has been minimized (ATRpro will pop up for captures and then return to taskbar). Files can
be saved in ‘png’ format (in addition to ‘bmp’), saving considerable disk space.
145
Option Screen #3
Option # 20: Output raw tote data to files. Choosing NO suppresses the real-time output of data to files
that can be read by handicapping software.
Option # 21: Minutes to Post to start ODDS screen. The user can choose how many minutes of data is
displayed on the ODDS screen. Choosing “20” produces 25 columns of data including up to 4 columns of post
time data depending on how often the tote changed at post time. Choosing “12” produces 14 columns of data
with only one column for post time data. While the advantages of the “20” option is obviously more data, the
“12” option gives a more readable display.
Option # 22: Minutes to Post to start TOTE screen. Similar to Option 21 for the ODDS screen, this option
changes the amount of data on the TOTE screen. The advantage of choosing the “14” option is that all the
data will fit on one display, while the other options of “20” and “17” show more data.
Option # 24: Include harness and dog tracks on TRACK LIST. Choosing YES displays all available tracks
when getting a new ‘R’ TRACK LIST by clicking on the appropriate button on the HOME SCREEN, while NO
suppresses display of harness and dog tracks.
146
Option Screen #3
Option # 25: New to V5.58 is the LowFive feature, another way to compare the win and exacta pools (thanks Jack Patten).
When Options 1 and 25 are set to YES, the LOWFIVE form will appear when there are at least 8 horses in the race. The first
two columns represent the favorite’s program number and odds. The third column displays the program numbers of the
‘bottom half’ of the lowest five exactas with the favorite, and the fourth column displays the program numbers of the 2 nd, 3rd,
4th, 5th, and 6th betting choices in the win pool. The fifth column displays the current exacta payoffs of the lowest five exactas
with the favorite and the sixth column displays the ‘quotient’ – the ratio of the current exacta payoff to the current win odds of
the horse on the ‘bottom half’.
Use this LOWFIVE form to quickly determine if there are any significant differences between the ranking of the horses in the
win pool and the exacta payoffs with the favorite – either by comparing the program numbers in the third and fourth columns
or by the ‘quotient’ values in the sixth column. Jack writes – “By identifying the low 5 exactas with the favorite one can get a
pretty good snapshot as to who the public deems the logical contenders. By comparing those 5 with the low odds (@ 2
minutes to post as an example) the public (or better yet, insiders) is affirming the true contention in the race.” The race shown
above (that was by chance chosen to document the LowFive feature) ended up with an interesting result -- the winning exacta
was the combination with the lowest quotient (the 2-1 exacta paid $45).
147
Option Screen #3
1
The GET TRACK JUDGE ODDS button (1) pops up the TRACK JUDGE ODDS LINE FORM that enables subscribers to the
Track Judge handicapping service to import the odds lines into ATRpro for display on the ODDS SCREEN. Information
on Track Judge is available at www.trackjudge.com.
The Track Judge odds-line values will be automatically used in the place of the Morning Line values on the odds screen
and for tote alarms. The next slide shows the display of the imported Track Judge Odds Line on the ODDS SCREEN.
148
Option Screen #3
1
This is an image of the ODDS SCREEN after Track Judge odds-lines values (1) have been imported to replace
the Morning Line values.
149
Using KLine Odds – Auto Scratch in HTR2
1
2
The GET KLINE ODDS button (1) enables subscribers to the Ken
Massa’s HTR2 handicapping service to import the KLine odds (2)
into ATRpro for display on the ODDS SCREEN. Information on
HTR2 is available at www.htr2.com.
The KLine odds-line is an excellent value predictor that is superior
to Morning Line Odds for giving a clear identification of horses the
public has underestimated. The KLine odds-line values will be
automatically used in the place of the Morning Line values on the
Odds Screen and for tote alarms. When KLine odds are available,
the Odds Screen displays the “KL odds” caption (3).
3
ATRpro computes and displays a ‘combined KLine’ odds value for
entries from the individual odds that HTR2 exports for each part
of an entry. The entry odds are computed by summing the
probabilities associated with each of the entries odds values.
ATRpro retrieves the KLine odds from C:\htr\ALL_HX4.TXT. (The
default directory of “C:\HTR” in ATRpro can be changed by using
the HTR SETUP button on the opening ATRpro screen.) ATRpro
imports these odds for today’s races for each track in this file.
Races for previous day’s races in this file are ignored.
The next few slides show the procedure within HTR2 for creating
the ALL_HX4.TXT file.
150
1
This is the HTR2 main screen.
The KLine odds values generated in HTR2 can change dramatically when horses are scratched. Consequently, it
is important to ‘scratch’ horses in HTR2 before generating the ALL_HX4.TXT file. Click on the the SCRATCH
button (1) to scratch horses in HTR2, which produces the HTR2 Scratch Screen, as shown on the next slide.
151
1
This is the HTR2 Scratch Screen. Horses can be scratched manually by ‘un-checking’ the box next to the scratched horse.
Alternatively, the AUTO SCRATCH FROM ATR button (1) can be used to automatically delete all reported scratches for all
tracks. This button appears only after the user has generated the c:\HTR\ATR_tote\scratch.txt file. The following slide
describes the procedure for creating this file from within ATRpro.
152
To enable the AUTO SCRATCH feature in HTR2:
IN ATRpro:
1) Startup ATRpro and check the “HTR” option of
Option 20 on the third Option Screen of ATRpro.
2) Get a new ‘R’ or ‘S’ Track List by clicking on the
appropriate button (1) on the ATRpro Home Screen.
Note that the ‘P’ Track List can not be used to
generate a list of late scratches.
3) Generate a list of late scratches by clicking on the
SCRATCHES: FOR ALL button (2) on the ATRpro
Home Screen. This action automatically generates
the c:\HTR\ATR_tote\scratch.txt file.
IN HTR2:
5) Click on the the SCRATCH button (1) on the main
HTR2 screen.
6) Click on the the AUTO SCRATCH FROM ATR button
on the HTR2 Scratch Screen, as shown on the
previous slide.
The following slide shows the resulting message in
HTR2 when these steps have been successfully
completed.
1
2
153
This message appears on the main screen of HTR2 when the AUTO SCRATCH feature in HTR2 has been
successfully performed.
154
1
This is the main HTR2 screen. Click on the EXPORT button (1) to create an ALL_HX4.TXT file with today’s KLine
values.
155
2
1
4
3
This is the HTR2 export screen. It is necessary that the HX4 check box (1) and the EXPORT RACES W/O RESULTS
check box (2) and the EXPORT TO AN ALL FILE ONLY check box (2) and the EXPORT ALL TRACKS ON LIST check box
(3) be checked to get the KLine odds values for races for today’s tracks to be saved to the ALL_HX4.TXT file. Click on
the EXPORT NOW button (4) to create the ALL_HX4.TXT file. The ALL_HX4.TXT file will be saved to the directory the
race files are in.
156
2
1
This is an image of the ATRpro screen after the GET KLINE ODDS button (1) has been clicked and the KLine
odds-lines values have been successfully imported to replace the Morning Line values. The message box (2)
displays the number of races that were read in. Similarly, the user would be alerted if the ALL_HX4.TXT did
not exist or there was no valid data for today’s races in the ALL_HX4.TXT file.
157
These are images of the ODDS SCREEN before and after KLine odds-lines values have been imported to
replace the Morning Line values.
158
Recording Tote Data with the Wake Up Session
2
1
ATRpro can be easily programmed to record tote data in the background for later study. ATRpro can even be
programmed to wake up at a later time or date and record the tote data.
Click on the WAKE-UP SESSION button (1) located on the third of the Options Screens (2) to get to the WAKE-UP
form to set the appropriate options to record tote data.
159
This is the WAKE-UP FORM. This form allows the user to easily save tote information to comma delimited files for
later review in spreadsheet format. The concept for this method of data collection was developed by Walter Toner.
The data is saved to files in the ‘C:\WakeUp’ directory. A file will be created for each type of betting pool for each
track. Info about the format of the data files and the options on this form will be described in the next few slides.
160
This slide shows/describes the data file containing $2 Win, Place and Show tote payoff data. The graphic is a screen shot
of a WordPad edit session on the data file. The file is named DMRW_.txt, where the first three letters are the track
abbreviation (DMR for Del Mar) and the next letter, ‘W’ designates it as having Win pool data.
The format of each of the data files is based on blocks of 7 lines of data. New blocks of data are saved to the file
whenever the Win tote data changes. The first line of each block contains the post time in military format (‘17,00’ means
post time of 5pm local computer time), the minutes to post, the race number and the date of the data. The first line on
this slide gives data at 17 mtp to the 5pm post time for the first race on 8/16/04.
The second line of data of each block contains the current $2 win payoffs for program numbers 1,2,3, …20. A value of
000.00 indicates that the program number is a scratch or was not entered. For example, the second line on this slide
shows that the 1 horse was scratched and the 2 horse pays $10.06 for each $2 bet in the win pool.
The third line of data gives the current maximum $2 place prices for program numbers 1,2,3, …20. Similarly, the fourth
line gives the minimum $2 place prices, the fifth line the maximum show and the sixth line the minimum show.
161
This slide shows/describes the data file containing $2 Exacta tote data. The file is named
DMRE_.txt, where the first three letters are the
track abbreviation (DMR for Del Mar) and the
next letter, ‘E’ designates it as having Exacta
pool data. Similarly, files have the ‘Q’ for
Quinella pool data, and ‘D’ for daily double pool
data.
The format of each of the data files is based on
blocks of 21 lines of data. The first line of each
block contains the post time in military format
(‘17,00’ means post time of 5pm local computer
time), the minutes to post, the race number
and the date of the data. For example, the first
line on this slide gives data at 17 mtp to the
5pm post time for the first race on 8/16/04.
The second line of data of each block contains the current $2 win payoffs for exactas starting with program number 1
in combination with program numbers 1,2,3, …20. A value of ‘000’ either indicates that the program number is a
scratch, or that it is not a valid exacta combination (that is there is no 2-2 exacta). For example, the second line on
this slide shows that the 1 horse was scratched as all values are ‘000’.
The third line of data of each block contains the current $2 win payoffs for exactas starting with program number 2 in
combination with program numbers 1,2,3, …20. For example, the third line on this slide shows that there is no 2-1
exacta (the 1 is scratched) , no 2-2 exacta (not a valid combination), the 2-3 exacta pays $116 for a $2 bet, the 2-4
exacta pays $296 for a $2 bet, and so on. Each of the next 18 lines follow this same format.
162
This slide shows/describes the data file containing $2 Quinella tote data. The file is named DMRQ_.txt,
where the first three letters are the track abbreviation (DMR for Del Mar) and the next letter, ‘Q’ designates
it as having Quinella pool data.
The format of each of the data files is based on blocks of 21 lines of data and is similar in format to the
Exacta pool data file described in the previous slide.
163
This slide shows/describes the data file containing $2 Daily Double tote data. The file is named DMRD_.txt, where the
first three letters are the track abbreviation (DMR for Del Mar) and the next letter, ‘D’ designates it as having Daily
Double pool data.
The format of each of the data files is based on blocks of 21 lines of data. As with the other data files, the first line of
each block contains the post time, the minutes to post, the race number and the date of the data. The second line
gives the $2 Daily Double payoffs for the 1 horse in the first half of the Daily Double with each of the program numbers
in the second half of the Daily Double. Similarly, the third line gives the 2 horse in the first half of the Daily Double with
each of the program numbers in the second half of the Daily Double.
164
1
2
The data can be saved while you are on the computer or while you are away from the computer. To save data
while you are on the computer, simply check the APPEND DATA ALWAYS checkbox (1), and then exit the
WAKE-UP FORM (without activating a WAKE-UP SESSION). All tote data retrieved by ATRpro will then be
saved to files in the ‘C:\WakeUp’ directory (until the APPEND DATA ALWAYS checkbox is unchecked).
If you want to save data at a later date or time, then you must set the appropriate date and time options for a
WAKE-UP SESSION. The options (2) shown on this slide, program ATRpro to the date and time to ‘wake-up’
and start recording data, and when to end.
165
2
1
3
5
4
The options shown on this slide are also needed to program a WAKE-UP SESSION.
The WHICH TRACK LIST frame (1) is used to choose which Track List to use in a WAKE-UP SESSION. The USE
ONLY TRACKS checkbox can be checked to filter the tracks list automatically during the WAKE-UP SESSION to
use only those tracks that are listed in the ‘C:\Wutracks.txt’ file. An EDIT button (3) can be used to edit the
program in WordPad (4). The format of the Wutracks.txt file is simply one track name per line (upper and
lower case not considered).
The WAKE-UP SESSION looks for new tracks periodically by getting new track lists. The default value of
looking for a new track list every 60 minutes can be changed in the HOW OFTEN text box (5).
166
2
1
3
The WAKE-UP SESSION is turned on by clicking on the ACTIVATE WAKE-UP MODE button (1). Once activated,
the WAKE-UP SESSION can be canceled by either clicking on the CANCEL WAKE-UP button (that only appears
on this form when the WAKE-UP SESSION has been activated) or by closing ATRpro.
The QUIT button (3) is used to exit the Wake-Up form without turning on a WAKE-UP SESSION.
167
Option Screen #4
1
This is the OPTION FORM with a display of the fourth of the four OPTIONS SCREENs. The fourth OPTION
SCREEN is accessed by clicking on the FOURTH OPTIONS SCREEN OPTION tab (1) after displaying the OPTION
FORM by clicking on the OPTIONS button which is located near the top right of the ATRpro display.
168
Option Screen #4
2
1
Option # 26: Resize main ATR form in next session. This option is useful for users who need to adjust the
clarity of the ATRpro screen to account for unusual screen resolutions on their installation.
Clicking on the RESIZE MAIN ATR FORM IN NEXT ATR SESSION produces a pop-up input box (1) that enables
the scale factor to be adjusted from a value of 0.5 to 1.1 for the next session. The value input is then
displayed on the Option 26 text box (2). After changing this value, you must exit your ATRpro session and
then start a new session to see the effect of the change.
169
Option Screen #4
1
Option # 27: Pool% for each Minute on ODDS screen. Use this option to change how the Percentage values
are calculated for each minute of betting on the ODDS SCREEN. These Percentage values are displayed on the
lower line of the ODDS SCREEN (1).
The default value of YES means that the Percentage values are calculated by dividing the amount of money
bet for that minute by the most recent Total pool value. The NO means that the Percentage values are
calculated by dividing the amount of money bet for that minute by the Total pool up to that minute.
170
1
Option Screen #4
3
2
Option # 28: Show rankings instead of $ bet for Win/Place/Show pools. Use this option to change the display on
the WPS Screen.
As shown on this slide, the default value of NO (1) means that the dollars bets on each horse is displayed on the
WPS Screen (2). Changing the display from dollars bet to ranking can be done by selecting YES (1) on the option
screen or by clicking on the Win Pool white action cell (3). Using the white action cell (3) immediately changes the
data displayed whereas the option button makes the change the next time the pools are updated.
The next slide shows the WPS Screen with the display of rankings of the Win/Place/Show pools.
171
Option Screen #4
1
1
This screen shows the rankings display (1) versus the dollars bet shown on the previous slide.
This display of rankings of the Win/Place/Show pools can make it quick and easy to visually determine when
horses are not bet uniformly in these pools. Thanks Bob Pearson.
172
Option Screen #4
1
Option # 29: Use this option to control which tracks on the Track List are displayed when Cycling based on the
minutes to post (mtp). This feature makes it easy to concentrate on only those tracks that are currently in your
‘mtp window’ for betting. See the MULTIPLE TRACKS section for more information on the Cycling feature of
ATRpro.
When this option is checked, an Input Box (1) appears to define the mtp for starting the display of the tote
information for each race. Thereafter, races are only displayed if the mtp is within this defined mtp value. Also, in
order to filter out races that are no longer available for betting, races are no longer displayed after the race is
listed as ‘OFF’ or the post time (0 mtp) information has been displayed 5 times. Thanks Tommy Walderon.
Option # 30: Use this option to switch between By The Minute Win Odds and By the Minute Win Pool on the
Odds screen. Thanks Larry Lyle.
173
Option Screen #4
Option # 31: Ehorse uses 'odds
for one' rather than 'odds to one'
on its website.
By default, the tote grid (1) on the
HOME Screen of the new format
ATRpro display switches from
‘$payoff’ (1) to ‘odds:1’ (2) when
clicking on the white action cell in
that grid.
Setting Option 31 to YES will result
in the grid to switch between
'$payoff' and 'EHORSE odds‘ (3).
Thanks Richard.
1
2
3
174
Option Screen #4
2
1
Option # 32: Similar to the BRIDGE JUMPER system for the show pool (Option 13), Option 32 extends the bridge
jumper concept of an unusually bet horse to the Win And Place pools. Audio, visual and even email alarms will go off
whenever any horse’s win, place or show pool exceeds a specified percentage of its total pool.
You set the target percentage in the form of a ratio of each horses $ bet to the total pool value for each of the win,
place and show pools in the Option 32 frame. Permissible ratio values must be >0 and <1. Alarms are set off every
time the criteria is met. Remember to set Option 7 to the mtp you want to start testing the alarms.
Setting Option 32 on will also change the display of the WPS Screen to include columns with the percentage of pool
money for each horse in each of the win, place and show pools (1). Thanks Arnie Horn.
Setting up ATRpro to enable the EMAIL ALARMS feature (2) is described on the next slide.
175
Email Alarms
New to V5.15 is the ability to send
email messages as part of SPOT PLAY
alarms. Thanks for the idea Arnie
Horn.
Now that many ATRpro users have cell
phones that can receive email text
messages, they can now set up
ATRpro to alert them when they are
away from their home computer for a
specific play (for horses that go off at
higher odds than the player thinks
they should be at) or a general alert (it
is now 10 mtp to the fifth at
Gulfstream Park).
By simply setting the EMAIL ALARMS
checkbox (1) on the SPOT PLAYS form,
ATRpro will automatically email all spot
play alarms whenever their defined
conditions are met. See the SPOT
PLAY section of this documentation for
more info on creating Spot Plays.
1
176
Email Alarms
The ATRpro email should work with any email account that works with Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Outlook Express
on your computer. If your email account does not work with Outlook, you may not be able to get it to work with
ATRpro.
New installations of ATRpro, created using V5.15 and later first time installation files, will automatically have all the
necessary system files to run the ATRpro email feature. It is important to note, that these required system files for the
email feature were not part of the first time installation file (ATRproSetup.exe) until V5.15. The cleanest way to install
the necessary system files for existing ATRpro installations (prior to V5.15) is to download the full installation of the
free screen capture utility EZsnap program available from the HTR software download webpage.
http://www.homebased2.com/km/htr.htm
Running the EZsnap full installation file will automatically install all the necessary system files for the ATRpro email
feature.
For existing ATRpro installations (prior to V5.15), installing the EZsnap program to get the system files is certainly a
easier task than uninstalling ATRpro and then running a new ATRpro first time installation file – and you just might find
EZsnap to be a worthwhile utility! All of the graphics in this documentation package are EZsnap screen captures.
The next slides describe the next step -- setting the Email properties and sending a test email. ATRpro automatically
saves the Email properties for later sessions.
177
Email Alarms
1
2
Click on the SEND TEST EMAIL (1) on the
fourth Options Screen to display the ATRpro
EMAIL FORM to set up and test the EMAIL
feature in ATRpro.
Fill in the ‘From:’ and ‘To:’ and ‘CC:’ boxes (2)
with the appropriate email addresses. Note
that the use of the cc: box is optional. Then
click on Options (3) to enter information
shown on next slide.
3
178
Email Alarms
3
2
4
1
55
When the ATRPRO EMAIL ADVANCED OPTIONS form appears, the SENDERS EMAIL, the TO EMAIL and the CC EMAIL
text boxes (1) should be automatically filled in with the info you had filled as shown in the previous slide.
The first step is simple: Type your name in the SENDER NAME textbox (2). The second step – filling out the SMTP
server textbox (3) - may take some effort. If you have Outlook or Outlook Express, here are the directions to find the
name of your Email SMTP Server on your computer. Go to Outlook Express and click on Tools; then click on Accounts;
then click on your e-mail account; then click on Properties; then click on Servers. You should then see a display with
the name of the Outgoing SMTP Server.
The OPTIONS frame (4) contains a number of advanced settings. It is advised that you leave these setting at the
default settings the first time you try out ATRpro email. When finished, click on SAVE CHANGES button (5). This will
take you to the ATRpro email and you are ready to click on Send E-mail to test the option as shown on the next slide.
179
Email Alarms
1
2
3
Click on SEND EMAIL button (1) to test the email feature. If all goes well, ATRpro will alert you with a SUCCESS
message box (2) and you are good to go!
If the email failed, information that can be useful to getting the email feature to work will be displayed in the STATUS
box (3). It then may be necessary to change the default values for the advanced settings discussed on the previous
slide. The documentation for EZsnap provides additional info on email settings including a discussion on these
advanced settings ( http://homebased2.com/atr/dnl/EZSnap_Users_Guide_v21.pdf starting on Slide 12).
180
Emailing Copies of ATRpro Screens 1/2
1
2
3
4
New to V5.65 is the ability to email screen shots of ATRpro screens. See the preceding slides for info on setting up
email in ATRpro.
Previously, you could either print (1) or save to file (2) an image of the current ATRpro screen by clicking on the COPY
button on the main ATRpro form or on the Graph form. Clicking on the EMAIL option button (3) and then on the COPY
FORM ACTION command button (4) produces the email form that includes a file attachment that is an image of the
current ATRpro screen.
181
Emailing Copies of ATRpro Screens 2/2
3
2
1
Clicking on the EMAIL option button and then on the COPY FORM ACTION command button on the COPY form (as
shown on the previous slide) produces the email form above that automatically includes a file attachment (1) that is
the image of the current ATRpro screen or graph. You can add information in the MESSAGE text box (2), before
sending the email by clicking on the SEND EMAIL command button (3).
After clicking on the SEND EMAIL command button, the email form will (hopefully) produce a message box affirming
successful transmission of the screen shot.
182
The CREATE CUSTOM HX4 ALARM button (on Option Screen 4) enables subscribers to Ken Massa’s HTR2
handicapping service to use the HX4 export feature to create an alarm to alert them when a current race matches
specified criteria. ATRpro automatically retrieves the race data from the file ‘C:\htr\ALL_HX4.TXT’ for today’s races.
The alarm can be as complex (including as many as 10 HX4 fields) or as simple as desired. For example, an HTR2
user can set up an alarm for ATRpro to sound an alert at 5 minutes to post whenever the Fr1 horse (the horse with
the highest first fraction velocity ranking) has odds greater than 10 to 1, in a dirt race for claimers, at a distance
between 5 and 7 furlongs. Or, an alarm can be set up to sound an alert whenever there is a current turf race.
The alarm criteria can include ‘=‘, ‘>=’, “<=“, and “>= and <=‘ matches. There are currently 158 fields in the HX4
export. See http://www.homebased2.com/km/dnl/hx4.txt for the current file specs. Information on HTR2 is
available at www.htr2.com. The procedure for creating the C:\htr\ALL_HX4.TXT file within HTR2 is also described
in the USING KLINE ODDS section of this document.
The file ‘C:\htr\ALL_HX4.TXT’ which includes today’s races must be created before an HX4 alarm can be set for the
current ATRpro session.
The new HX4 ALARM FORM is shown on the next slide.
183
This is the HX4 ALARM FORM. The procedure for creating an HX4 alarm is described in the following slides.
184
1
The first step for creating an HX4 alarm is to define the HX4 filters.
First choose the FILTER ITEM by using the FILTER ITEM dropdown boxes (1). The FILTER ITEMS include all of the
available HX4 fields and are automatically extracted from your ‘C:\htr\ALL_HX4.TXT’ file.
185
1
For each filter, choose the TYPE of match by using the TYPE dropdown boxes (1). The TYPE can be a ‘number’ or ‘text’.
The TYPE chosen is very important.
When the TYPE is defined as a ‘number’, the filter uses the value of the HX4 data for today’s race to compare to the
number that is defined in the filter. The ‘number’ criteria can include ‘=‘, ‘>=’, “<=“, and “>= and <=‘.
When the TYPE is ‘text’, the ‘text’ criteria can include only ‘=‘, and the filter uses only the number of text characters
defined in the filter to determine if there is a match with the HX4 data for today’s race. For example, the defined filter
value of ‘sa’ on this form would match ‘Saratoga’ and ‘Santa Anita’ in the ‘C:\htr\ALL_HX4.TXT’ file. Upper and lower
case are ignored.
186
1
For each filter, choose the values to match the data in your ‘C:\htr\ALL_HX4.TXT’ file using the appropriate drop-down
boxes (1).
In the example shown above, the current race will be a match only if the race is on the dirt (nSURF = 1), the race
distance is less than or equal to 7.5 furlongs (nDIST <= 7.5), the race class is claiming or allowance (nCLA <= 2), and
the odds criteria is a match for the horse who has the top ranked Fraction 1 (rFR1 = 1).
187
1
HX4 alarms can be saved for future sessions and then retrieved by using the SAVE THIS ALARM button and LOAD
SAVED ALARM buttons (1). Up to 99 different alarms can be saved.
188
1
2
The next step to create an HX4 alarm is to test the filters against file ‘C:\htr\ALL_HX4.TXT’ for today’s races to make
sure there are possible matches. Clicking on the FIND MATCHES button (1), produces the listing shown in the output
text box (2).
Performing this step is very important to verify that the HX4 filters have been properly created and that possible alarms
do exist for today’s races.
189
2
1
Define the odds criteria as ‘>=‘, ‘<=“ or ignore (1). The
value of odds is defined in the ODDS text box (2).
Define the minutes to post to test the alarm in the MTP
text box (3).
The last step in creating the HX4 alarm is to click on the
CHECK THIS BOX TO SET HX4 ALARM check box (4).
3
4
190
1
When the HX4 filter is complete, click on the EXIT – USE HX4 ALARM button (1) to return to the main ATRpro
form.
191
When the conditions of an
HX4 alarm are met, an
ALARM form is displayed for
5 seconds, and music is
played (as long as Option 8
is set to YES).
192
2
Taking a few minutes to complete the three Steps on the AUTO-LOGIN form (1) will save the user the time and effort
of logging into the Racing Channel tote board when accessing the ‘R’ TRACK LIST in future ATRpro sessions.
The AUTO-LOGIN form is displayed by clicking on the RUN AUTO-LOGIN WIZARD FOR RACING CHANNEL button (2)
on the Fourth Options Screen on the OPTIONS Form.
The first step is to fill in the Cursor Position Table. This is easily accomplished by clicking on the STEP 1 button (3)
and following the instructions shown on following slides.
193
2
1
After clicking on the STEP 1 button, the ATRpro Web Browser will appear with the Racing Channel phonebet.com
login webpage. Message box (1) will also be displayed.
Simply click on the YES button on this message box, immediately move the mouse cursor to the center of the
Account Number input box (2) on the phonebet.com login webpage and hold the mouse still. In one second a
new message box will be displayed – as shown in the next slide.
194
2
1
Now click on the YES button on the new message box (1), immediately move the mouse cursor to the center of
the Zip Code input box (2) on the phonebet.com login webpage and hold the mouse still. In one second a new
message box will be displayed – as shown in the next slide.
195
2
1
Now click on the YES button on the new message box (1), immediately move the mouse cursor to the center of
the Login to Toteboard button (2) on the phonebet.com login webpage and hold the mouse still. In one second
a new message box will be displayed – as shown in the next slide.
196
1
The new message box will be displayed – click on the OK button (1) on this message box and you will return to
the AUTO-LOGIN form as shown in the next slide.
197
You will notice that Cursor Position Table is now filled out with the x and y position information.
The second step is to fill in your Account number and zip code values (1) on the AUTO-LOGIN form.
The third and last step is to click on the STEP 3 button (2) which will save all the cursor values and account info to
the file C:\RClogin.txt for future sessions, exit the AUTO-LOGIN form, and then login to the Racing Channel
toteboard for the current session.
The next slide will show the ATRpro screen after completing the 3 steps on the AUTO-LOGIN form.
198
This ‘R’ Track List is now displayed on the HOME screen on the main ATRpro form after completing the steps on
the AUTO-LOGIN form.
For future sessions, simply click once on the NEW R LIST button, wait a few seconds while ATRpro does all the
work and you will be ready to play!
199
Scratch Form 1/2
1
The SCRATCHES FOR ALL button (1) produces the form shown on the next slide.
200
Scratch Form 2/2
1
2
3
This SCRATCH FORM can be very handy for retrieving reported late scratches for tracks on the TRACK LIST.
The data displayed includes track and conditions (1) and reported late scratches including designations for “part
of entry” scratches (2). This form includes a convenient PRINT button (3).
201
Ten Cent Superfecta Creation Form 1/12
New to V5.48 is a feature for creating multiple Ten Cent Superfecta bets using ‘bet tiers’. This method of creating
superfectas can produce multiple winning ten cent tickets if your main contenders all come in, along with a good
chance to hit a nice payoff if most of your contenders come in. The Superfecta form is displayed after clicking on the
‘sf' buttons that appears on the main ATRpro form. The following slide show how to access and use this new feature.
202
1
2
Access the Ten Cent Superfecta form by clicking on the ‘sf' button that appears on the new format main ATRpro
form (1) or the old format main ATRpro form (2). The Ten Cent Superfecta form will then be displayed. If there is
tote info shown on the main ATRpro form the Ten Cent Superfecta Form will appear with the appropriate number of
entries for the current race including the automatic elimination of any scratches, otherwise, the form will appear
with the default number of 14 entries.
203
1
It is simple to change the total number of entries shown on the form by using the NUMBER OF ENTRIES text
box (1) and clicking on the RESET FOR ENTRIES button.
204
3
1
2
There are three step to creating ten cent superfecta bets with this form:
Step 1: Assign picks to up to 5 bet tiers labeled A,B,C,D and E.
Step 2: Create up to 20 combinations of these bet tiers - for example A/B/C/D or AB/AB/AB/E.
Step 3: Click on the CALCULATE TICKETS button to display all of the bets and the total cost in the output
box on the bottom of the form.
205
1
2
Step 1: Assign picks to up to 5 bet tiers labeled A,B,C,D and E.
The direct way to assign picks to the bet tiers is by clicking on the appropriate program numbers (1) in each tier.
Any number of picks can be chosen in each tier. Also, the same pick can be part of more than one tier.
Assigning all picks in a bet tier is accomplished by simply clicking on the ALL button (2) in that tier.
206
1
Bet Tiers ‘D’ and ‘E’ are designed to work together: When the ALL button (1) in Tier ‘D’ is clicked, in addition to
selecting all picks in ‘D’, Tier ‘E’ is filled with all picks that have not been chosen in Tier ‘A’, Tier ‘B’ or Tier ‘C’. As shown
above, clicking on the All button in Tier ‘D’ resulted in picks 1,2,3,9,10,11,12,13,14 in Tier ‘E’ with the 4,5,6,7,8 not
chosen in Tier ‘E’ as they were already included as picks in Tier ‘A’, Tier ‘B’ or Tier ‘C’.
Having Tier ‘D’ assigned as an ALL-tier and Tier ‘E’ assigned as an ALL-but-ABC-tier makes it straightforward to
construct a combination of ABCDE tickets that ensure that you will have a winning ticket (given that all your ABC picks
get ‘in the money’) without having multiple tickets with the same combinations.
The next slide shows how to always have Tier ‘D’ assigned as an ALL-tier and Tier ‘E’ assigned as an ALL-but-ABC-tier.
207
1
When the SET INITIAL SETTINGS checkbox (1) is checked the Superfecta form will initially appear with Tier ‘D’
assigned as an ALL-tier and Tier ‘E’ assigned as an ALL-but-ABC-tier; picks are automatically removed from Tier ‘E’
as they are chosen in Tier ‘A’, Tier ‘B’ or Tier ‘C’. (It may sound a bit confusing but a little practice will help. Push
some buttons and see what happens!)
208
1
Clicking on the RESET PICKS button (1) clears out all picks from all the bet tiers.
209
1
2
3
Step 2: Create up to 20 combinations of the ABCDE bet tiers.
The ABCDE combinations (1) can be typed in either lower or upper case with a space separating each combination.
All of the information is saved by clicking on the SAVE INFO button (2) and can then be easily recalled in a future
session by clicking the RECALL INFO button (3). These buttons can be a real time saver for users who have many
standard combinations that they play.
210
Step 3: Click on the
CALCULATE TICKETS
button (1) to display all
of the bets and the total
cost.
1
3
4
2
The Ticket Display (2)
will then show:
Summary information:
Total cost of all
tickets
Ticket information:
ABCDE
combination for
the ticket
Program
numbers for the
ticket
Cost for the
ticket
Also, error messages
will be displayed if any
of the tickets are not
valid.
This information can be
printed by clicking on
the PRINT TICKETS
button (3), or saved to
file by using the SAVE
TICKETS TO FILE
button (4).
211
This form also allows fine tuning
for each of the ‘ABCDE’ bet tiers
by using the POSITION CONTROL
check boxes (1).
1
The first column of these
POSITION CONTROL boxes
corresponds to the first leg of the
superfecta, the second column
corresponds to the second leg,
the third column to the third leg,
and the fourth column to the
fourth leg.
2
By default, all of the POSITION
CONTROL check boxes are
checked. By unchecking any of
these check boxes, that entry will
not be included in any ticket that
has that bet tier entry in the
appropriate leg (as described in
the previous paragraph). For
example, by unchecking the first
column POSITION CONTROL box
for the 4 entry in the ‘A’ bet tier,
the 4 will not be included as part
of ‘A’ bet tier in the first leg of the
superfecta. Compare the
resulting A/B/C/D ticket (2) on
this slide to the corresponding
ticket on previous slide to see
how this works.
212
New to V6.41, this
form can be used to
export the Dime
Superfectas to a file
for submitting to
YouBet using the
WagerQueuePro
utility.
1
2
By clicking on the
ADD DIME YOUBET
SUPERS TO FILE
BELOW button (1),
popups will appear
asking you for the
YouBet track code
and race number.
Then the bets will
be saved to the file
listed in the
FILENAME textbox
(2) in the correct
format for YouBet.
213
KLine Odds / Tote Odds Blending Form 1/14
Arguably the best predictor of race probability is KLine Odds from Ken Massa’s
HTR2 software. New to V6.24, you can blend the Tote with the KLine Odds to
create a probability factor that may produce higher Kelly bet returns than just
using the KLine Odds. Thanks Richard Diamond.
1
The first step is to determine optimized blending criteria based on race results
at specific tracks. The KLINE-ODDS/TOTE BLENDING STUDY button (1) on
the OPTIONS form Fourth Screen produces the KELLY-ODDS/TOTE BLENDING
Form. Before running these studies, you must first create HX4 export files
that include results of previous races. See Chapter 2 of HTR2 Access Manual
for information on creating HX4 export files using HTR2 software.
2
3
After determining the optimized
criteria, the KELLY-ODDS/TOTE
BLENDING form can be used to
create Kelly Bets with current
tote data. Do this by first getting
tote data for the track and then
clicking the KLINE-TOTE BLEND
button, labeled KTB (2) on the
New Format Main Form or the
KTB button (3) on the Old
Format Main Form.
Using the KLINE ODDS/TOTE
BLENDING FORM for creating
optimized criteria and then
creating Kelly bets is described
on the following slides.
214
This slide shows the KLINEODDS/TOTE BLENDING FORM
after clicking on the KLINEODDS/TOTE button on the
Options Form fourth Screen.
The purpose of doing a study
using the results from previous
races is to determine settings
for future Kelly bets at a
specific track. The intention is
not to determine settings that
would produce a profit for
betting all races – although
that goal would be great to
achieve. It is certainly not
reasonable to expect to show
a profit when betting all races.
Rather, the goal is to find
those settings that reflect the
relative success of the KLine
odds and the tote odds in
predicting race results for
future races that you
determine are playable per
your own criteria.
215
2
1
The KLINE-ODDS/TOTE BLENDING FORM has a variety of factors that affect the choice and size of the Kelly bets.
Using the KELLY APPROACH OPTION box (1), you have the choice of choosing the bets that produce the highest
expected growth; or the bets that have the highest probability along with an expected growth greater than 1.0; or the
bets that have the highest expected growth that include the Krank=1 horse (the horse that has the lowest KLine odds).
Using the TOTE ODDS BLEND FACTOR text box (2), you have the choice of how the odds effect the probability from the
KLine. A blend factor of 0.0 means the tote is NOT used in the probability calculation; a factor of 1.0 means that the
probability is based on equal weighing of the tote and KLine; a factor less than 1.0 means that the tote has relatively
less effect on the probability than the KLine; and a factor greater than 1.0 means the tote has a relatively greater effect
on the probability than the KLine.
216
1
2
The RISK FACTOR text box (1) affects the size of the bets, not the horses used in the bets. A value of 1.0 produces the
full optimal Kelly bet (which can result in bets that are a large percentage of the bankroll when the Kelly calculations
indicate a prime betting situation); while values greater than 1.0 produce relatively smaller size bets. While using a
value of 1.0 can produce large profits when the probability of the KLine is right on, choosing higher risk factors is
usually considered the more prudent course.
In any case, the magic of having a HX4 database of race results (created with the HTR2 handicapping software) is that
you can use this form to determine the ideal combination of factors for a specific track. Click on the DO HX4 STUDY
button (2) to start a study. The following slides show how a study progresses.
217
1
2
After clicking on the DO HX4 STUDY, input the full path of the HX4 file containing the results for a specific track in
the LIST FULL PATH input box (1). The form will remember the path to this file; so after running a study with the
current factors, it will be easy to change a setting and rerun the study.
Then input the starting bankroll for the study in the BANKROLL input box (2).
218
1
After inputting the HX4 file path and bankroll values, the first race in the HX4 file appears. The date, track and race number is
shown in the top label (1) with the details of the race shown in the table...
Column 1 - NUM - displays the program numbers, with the winning horse cell colored green – for this race the 3 won.
Column 2 - HORSE NAME - displays the horse names.
Column 3 - KLINE ODDS - displays the KLine Odds.
Column 4 - PROBABILITY - displays the probability calculated from the KLine.
Column 5 - TOTE ODDS / PROB - displays the tote odds and the probability calculated from the tote odds, with cells colored
green whose tote odds are higher than the KLine odds – for this race the 2, 4 and 6 horse.
Column 6 – BLENDED PROB - displays the blended probability. Since the tote odds blend factor is set to 1.0 for this study, the
blended probability is the average of the KLine probability and the Tote Odds probability.
Column 7 – KELLY BET - displays the Kelly bet amount.
Column 8 - PAYOFF - displays the payoff if any of the Kelly bets was on the winning horse.
219
1
3
2
The resulting BANKROLL (1) is displayed after taken into account any Kelly bets, any bet rebates and any
payoffs.
At this point, you can see the next race in the HX4 database by clicking on the NEXT RACE button (2), or
can quickly finish the study by clicking on the FAST FORWARD button (3). Clicking on the FAST FORWARD
button will finish a 500 race HX4 file in a few seconds. In fact it’s fun to watch the races whiz by! (My wife
was impressed!)
220
This is the 99th race in the
study. The STATUS list box
(1) shows information about
each race including the
study race number, the date,
the track, the race number,
the expected growth, the
total Kelly bets, and the
cumulative total of Kelly
bets.
2
1
This race illustrates the
handling of entries in the
calculation of Kelly bets.
The KLine Odds is shown for
each of the horses
individually in the KLINE
ODDS column, but the
combined probability for the
two horses is shown in the
PROBABILITY column (2).
This combined probability
value is used to determine
any Kelly calculated bet for
this horse.
221
1
2
The results of a study
performed on the 2008
Saratoga meeting is shown.
For that meet, the study
demonstrates that using a high
tote blend factor and the
highest expected growth with
the Krank=1 horse was the
best strategy. Note that the
purpose of doing this study is
to determine settings for
future Kelly bets at Saratoga in
races that you determine are
playable per your own criteria.
The intention is not to
determine settings that would
produce a profit for betting all
races at Saratoga.
After determining the
optimized criteria, the KELLYODDS/TOTE BLENDING form
can be used to create Kelly
Bets with current tote data.
Do this by first getting tote
data for the track and then
clicking the KLINE-TOTE
BLEND button, labeled KTB (1)
on the New Format Main Form
or the KTB button (2) on the
Old Format Main Form.
222
1
2
Produce this form by first
creating the
C:\HTR\ALL_HX4.txt file with
today’s races, then getting tote
data for the track (described
earlier in this manual) and
then clicking the KLINE-TOTE
BLEND (KTB) button on the
main form as shown on the
previous slide.
The first time you click on the
KTB button, the options shown
on this slide will appear.
These options include the
HIGHEST EXPECTED GROWTH
approach (1). With these
default options set, the Kelly
bets are on the 3, 6, and 9
horses for a total bet of $193
and a potential payoff of about
$870 no matter which of these
horses wins.
To change any option, simply
click on the appropriate option
button or type new values in
the appropriate text box and
then click on the
RECALCULATE button (2).
223
1
This is the form after the
HIGHEST PROBABILITY,
EXPECTED GROWTH >1.0
option (1) has been chosen
and the RECALCULATE
BUTTON has been clicked.
With these options set, the
Kelly bets are on the 1, 3, 6,
10, 11, and 12 horses for a
total bet of $142 and a
potential payoff of about
$185 no matter which of
these horses wins.
224
1
This is the form after the
HIGHEST PROBABILITY,
EXPECTED with KRANK=1
option (1) has been chosen
and the RECALCULATE
BUTTON has been clicked.
With these options set, the
Kelly bets are on the 3, 6, 9,
and 12 horses for a total bet
of $354 and a potential
payoff of about $670 no
matter which of these
horses wins.
225
You also have the ability to
eliminate any horse from
consideration for the Kelly
bets. This is done by
double-clicking on the
horses program number that
you do no want to consider
as a bet; this changes the
background color of the
horses program number to
red. Then click on the
RECALCULATE button.
1
Comparing this slide to the
display in the previous slide
demonstrates that
eliminating the 3 horse (1)
from consideration results in
a change in bet amounts on
the other Kelly bets. Now,
the Kelly bets are on the 6,
9, and 12 horses for a total
bet of $178 and a potential
payoff of about $445 no
matter which of these
horses wins.
226
1
2
You also have the ability to
change the probability of any
horse to any value between 0.0
and 1.0. This is done by first
setting the SAVE CHANGES TO
PROBABILITIES FOR ALL
RECALCULATIONS checkbox (1)
and then editing the probability
values in the PROBABILITY
column. For example, in this
race, the probability of the
three horse was manually
changed to 0.0 (2). To get the
new Kelly bets, click on the
RECALCULATE button after
making changes.
Comparing this slide to the
display in the previous slide
demonstrates that setting the
probability of the 3 horse to 0.0
has a very different effect than
simply eliminating the 3 horse
from bet consideration. This is
because the probabilities of the
other horses have been
automatically adjusted so that
the total probability for all
horses is 1.0.
227
Group Overlay 1/8
1
New to V6.44, the Group Overlay feature provides the ability to identify races where your contenders, as a group, offer
value in the win pool. When the public’s estimation of your contenders probability of winning is less than your estimate of
the groups probability of winning, ATRpro calculates the dutched win bets on your contenders. This feature is based on
an article by Dick Mitchell available at the Cynthia Publishing website
http://www.cynthiapublishing.com/MitchellArticles/dm20001104.htm
Click on the new white action cell, labeled ‘GO’ (1), on the WPS tab to produce the Group Overlay Form as shown on the
228
next slide.
Group Overlay 2/8
1
There are 4 steps in setting up a race
on The Group Overlay Form.
The First step is to type in your total
bankroll in the YOUR BANKROLL text
box (1). The total amount of any win
bets calculated will reflect the dutched
optimum percentage of the bankroll by
the formula: Total Bet Size = Your Bankroll x
(your estimate - public estimate) / (1 - public
estimate)
The Second step is to identify the
contenders. Any number of contenders
can be selected. Do this by simply
double clicking the PROGRAM NUMBER
(2) of each of your contenders. The
next slide displays the form after the ‘1’
and ‘2’ horses have been selected.
2
Note that deselecting a contender is
just as simple as selecting – just double
click a second time on the Program
Number.
229
Group Overlay 3/8
This slide shows that when the
contenders are chosen: the background
color of the PROGRAM NUMBER boxes
(1) are colored red, the YOUR BETTING
LINE ODDS input boxes (2) appear, and
the CURRENT TOTE PROBABILITY value
box (3) is displayed on The Group
Overlay Form.
3
1
2
The Third step in creating a Group
Overlay is to identify Your Estimation of
the Total Probability of your contenders.
One way of doing this is by typing in
your estimation of each contender’s
true odds in the YOUR BETTING LINE
ODDS input boxes (2). This is shown on
the next slide.
230
Group Overlay 4/8
4
1
2
3
This slide shows that when you type in your
estimate of the contenders true odds in the
YOUR BETTING LINE ODDS input boxes (1),
the total probability of these contenders is
displayed in the YOUR TOTAL PROBABILITY
VALUE text box (2).
For the example race shown, the total
probability of your contenders calculated by
Your Betting Line Odds (value of .54) is
higher than the Current Tote Probability from
the public’s betting (value of 0.42). This
indicates that this race has a positive
expectation no matter which of your
contenders win the race. Of course, this
depends on your estimation of your
contenders probability being better than the
public’s estimation – the whole point of our
hobby/vocation of handicapping !
The Fourth step is to identify Your Overlay
Percentage in the input box (3), the amount
that your Estimation of the Total Probability
of your contenders must exceed the Current
Tote Probability for the bets to be calculated.
Dick Mitchell used a value of 0.10 in his
article as a safe cushion for late changes in
the tote odds.
The next slide shows the ATRpro main form
after the PROCESS AND RETURN button (4)
has been clicked.
231
Group Overlay 5/8
1
2
After creating the group overlay parameters for a race, every time that race is displayed the tote probability of your
contenders will be calculated and compared to your estimation of your contenders probability. If the public's estimate is
lower than your group estimate by at least the value of our overlay percentage, you are in a positive-expectation
situation. If you are in a positive expectation situation, the program numbers of your contenders will be colored GREEN
(1) and dutched win bets will be displayed in the Dutch/Hedge Grid (2).
232
Group Overlay 6/8
A second way of identifying Your Total
Probability for your contenders is shown
on this slide.
Click on the USE YOUR ESTIMATE
option (1) in the YOUR TOTAL
PROBABILITY box and then type in the
value of your estimate of the total
percentage of winning for your group of
contenders in the text box (2). Using
this option means that you do not need
to type in YOUR BETTING LINE ODDS
for your contenders.
1
2
3
For the example race shown, the total
probability of your contenders input
with USE YOUR ESTIMATE option (value
of .4) is higher than the Current Tote
Probability from the public’s betting
(value of 0.37). This indicates that this
race has a positive expectation no
matter which of your contenders win
the race. However, the difference
between these two values is not greater
than the value of YOUR OVERLAY
PERCENTAGE (3) – consequently,
dutched win bets will not be calculated
for this race. The next slide shows what
happens after the PROCESS AND
RETURN button is clicked.
233
Group Overlay 7/8
1
If the public's estimate is NOT lower than your group estimate by at least the value of our overlay percentage, you are
NOT in a positive-expectation situation. When you are NOT in a positive-expectation situation, the program numbers of
your contenders will be colored RED (1) and NO dutched win bets will be displayed in the Dutch/Hedge Grid.
234
Group Overlay 8/8
1
New to V6.46, the EXPECTED GROWTH of the group overlay for positive expectations is shown in the race caption (1).
This value is calculated per the formula: expected growth = (w * p) – (v * L); where w = cashed bet if horse wins, p = your
estimated probability of winning race, v = total bet in race, L = your estimated probability of losing race = (1-p). For the
race shown above, this formula becomes: expected growth = ( ((32+34)/2) * 0.40 ) – ( 14 * (1 – 0.4) ) = 5%
235
View 4
1/17
Some handicappers like to follow the crowd betting action compared to their own
odds line or the morning line and look for horses who are taking more or less action
than anticipated. When ATRpro is cycling, you only get to see one track's data at a
time, and if you are following several tracks, it gets hard to remember what is going
on each time ATRpro jumps to the next track.
New to V8.20, the View 4 screen gives a constant display of the changing odds of
each track updated in real time. Color codes allow you to quickly see overlays and
underlays, and you can construct win dutch/hedge bets right from the View 4 screen.
The tracks proceed across the screen from left to right as each race goes off.
Thanks to Charles Judge for the concept and design of the View 4 screen.
236
View 4
2/17
This is the ‘View 4’ screen. The features of the View 4 screen are summarized in the next slide.
237
View 4
3/17
The features of the View 4 Screen are:
1) displays tote data for 4 tracks on one screen. The tracks are automatically chosen
from the ATRpro track list as those closest to post time. Tracks are arranged with the tracks
closest to post displayed from right to left.
2) each track display can be tailored separately – data can be displayed sorted by
odds, program numbers or morning line values.
3) displays color coding for the ratio of odds / morning line odds. This allows you to
quickly determine which horses are underlays or overlays.
4) you can use the ATRpro import features to replace morning line values with either
HTR2 Kline odds, HTR2 Adjusted Morning Line odds, Track Judge Odds, or user defined odds.
5) the display can be set for the tote data to be updated automatically and/or can be
manually refreshed at any time. You can also manually refresh one track at a time.
6) races are automatically removed from display when tote pools stop changing after
a user defined number of times at post time. You can also ‘black out’ a specific track/race# from
display on the View 4 until the next race at that track is live.
7) you can ‘anchor’ one or more tracks so they are always displayed no matter what
their time to post. You can even have the same track shown with multiple sort displays at the
same time.
8) the user can create dutch/hedge win bets with simple mouse clicks for any of the
tracks shown. Then you can create ‘batch files’ that are formatted for sending the bets to any of
four betting facilities built into ATRpro. The dutch/hedge bets are retained during track refreshes.
238
View 4
4/17
2
1
3
4
This image shows the main ATRpro screen. To start using the View 4 feature:
1)
2)
3)
4)
startup ATRpro and select one of the available track lists (1).
use the REMOVE TRACKS feature (2) to select tracks you want to display.
use the CYCLE OFTEN button (3) to start tote downloads.
click on the VIEW 4 button (4).
239
View 4
1
2
5/17
3
This slide shows the 3 ways to display the tote data by simply clicking on the option buttons on the bottom of each
track display: sorted by odds (1), by Program Number (2), or by Morning Line odds (3).
240
View 4
1
6/17
2
This slide shows the 2 ways to automatically refresh the tote data on the View 4 screen:
Refresh all 4 tracks automatically at the end of the ATRpro track cycle by setting the AUTO REFRESH
AT END OF EACH CYCLE checkbox ON (1).
Refresh individual tracks automatically after each track tote refresh by setting the AUTO REFRESH ON
ALL TRACK UPDATES checkbox ON (2).
241
View 4
1
7/17
2
This slide shows the 2 ways to manually refresh the tote data on the View 4 screen: Refresh all 4 tracks manually by
clicking on the REFRESH ALL TRACKS button (1), and refresh a single track by clicking on the REFRESH button (2) located
on the bottom of each track display.
242
View 4
8/17
1
This slide shows you how to anchor a track so that the track is always displayed no matter what the tracks
rank is as far as minutes to post. To anchor a track, click on the green TRACK NAME button (1) shown near
the top of each tracks display. The next slide shows the form pops up.
243
View 4
9/17
1
The ANCHOR TRACK form allows you to
pick a track so that the track is always
displayed on the View 4 screen.
To anchor a track, click on the track name
on the track list. The name of the track will
appear on the ANCHOR TRACK option
which will then turn green. Then click on
the PROCESS AND RETURN button (2) to
get back to the View 4 screen.
2
244
View 4
10/17
1
This slide shows that the TRACK NAME button (1) is colored yellow whenever a track is anchored to the
View 4 screen.
245
View 4
1
3
11/17
This form also allows you to un-anchor a
track frame by clicking on the NO LONGER
ANCHOR option (1) which will then turn
green. Then click on the PROCESS AND
RETURN button (2).
You can also permanently remove a
track/race # from the View 4 form by
clicking on the REMOVE TRACK option (3).
This will remove that track/race # on the
View 4 form until the next race for that
track is live. This is very handy if you are
not interested in a particular race.
The next slide shows an alternate way to
permanently remove a track/race # from
the View 4 display.
2
246
View 4
12/17
1
The slide shows the REMOVE TRACK button (1) on the bottom of each track display that is a quick way to
permanently remove a track/race # from the View 4 display until the next race for that track is live.
247
View 4
13/17
1
2
This slide shows several other features of the View 4 form. Click on the NUMBER OF STALE REFRESHES
ALLOWED button (1) to define the number of allowable tote cycles at post time that have unchanged tote
data before the track is removed from the View 4 screen. Set this value to 100 if you want tracks displayed
even after the tote pools are closed.
The ARRANGE TRACKS BY MTP check box (2) allows you turn off the feature that arranges tracks with the
tracks closest to post displayed from right to left. With this check box is set to ‘unchecked’ the position of a
specific track on the View 4 form is not moved until a different set of 4 tracks is displayed. This is useful when
you are creating dutch/hedged bets (as described in next few slides) as it prevents a specific track from
jumping around on tote refresh.
248
View 4
14/17
1
The following slides show how to create Dutch/Hedge bets using the View 4 screen. The total amount to bet is
set by clicking on the $100 BUTTON (1) on the bottom of each tracks display. A pop up window will appear that
will let you change the bet amount and then that button will display the new bet total for that track.
249
View 4
15/17
1
The goal of dutched bets is to get an equivalent profit no matter which of the horses wins, while the goal of
hedge bets is to break even on that horse. A mouse click on one of the green buttons (1) adds the horse as a
dutch bet. A “D” will appear on the green button. Two green boxes then appear next to green button – first
displays the amount of the bet on that horse and the second displays the profit if that horse wins the race.
A second click on the green button turns the bet into a hedge and a “H” will appear on the green button. The
two green boxes then turn to yellow. A third click removes the bet with the two yellow boxes then
disappearing. With each click on these green buttons, ATRpro calculates the amount of all the bets and the
current profit. The calculation of these bets is also automatically updated with each refresh of the tote pools.
250
View 4
2
16/17
1
Clear all bets for a given track by clicking on the CLEAR BETS button (1). When ready to create a batch file to
send to your tote provider, click on the MAKE BETS button (2). The following slide shows the form that pops up.
251
View 4
17/17
This slide shows the
PRINT BETS form.
A file is automatically
created with the current
dutched and hedged
win bets in the format
for uploading to either
the Premier Turf Club
(PTC), TwinSpires,
Xpressbet or Amwager
off track wagering
facility depending on
which option is chosen
on this form.
See a description of the
PRINT BETS form
earlier in this
documentation for
further details.
252
1/5
Many ATRpro users already follow the sequential changes in the win pool from minute to minute on the
TOTE screen or the total exacta pool on the ODDS screen. New to V8.22, the TRENDS screen allows users
to follow the minute by minute changes in each of the exacta and double combos. Color codes allow you
to quickly see when payoffs have changed significantly from the previous minutes-to-post value.
253
2/5
1
2
To display the Trends Screen, first click on the Options button on the main ATRpro form (1). Then choose
EXACTA AND DOUBLE TRENDS (2) on Option 3 of the Options form.
254
3/5
3
1
2
The Trends screen has three main parts:
(1) The exacta/double combos are shown both on the far left (1) and far right columns (2) with blue color font.
Changing back and forth between the exacta and double display is quick and immediate as shown in next slides.
(2) The minutes to post values are shown on the second row with blue coloring (3). As many as 10 ‘zero’ minuteto-post values are shown.
(3) The minute-to-post payoffs for each combo are in the body of the display, with the option to shade or color the
payoff numbers as shown in next slides.
255
4/5
1
The Trends screen has quick access cells on the top row that allows easy and immediate changing of the
display.
When you select the exacta payoffs to be displayed, the EXA appears in a green cell as shown above.
You can change from display of exacta payoffs to display of double payoffs by clicking on the white dbl action
cell (1). The first cell would then show DBL in a green cell as shown below (2).
2
256
5/5
The white THRESHOLD action cells (1)
determine when the payoff cells have color
or shade and set the percentage threshold
for the coloring/shading.
1
Click on the SHADE action cell (2) to
immediately change to shading of the payoffs.
Payoffs that meet the threshold value are
shaded red when the payoffs have gone down
and yellow when payoffs have gone up.
Simply click on the COLOR action cell to return
to colored font. Note that the action cell,
either SHADE or COLOR, turns green when
chosen.
The default for the display is colored font
payoffs with a 7% threshold as shown to the
left. The payoffs are colored red if they have
gone down by at least 7% since the last
minutes-to-post payoff value, and are
colored green if the payoffs have gone up by
at least 7%. The threshold percentage value
is immediately changed by clicking on the
appropriate white PERCENTAGE action cells.
3
2
Click on the white NO action cell (3) on the
top row for no coloring or shading of the
payoffs.
257
Registration
This FREE fully functioning version of AT THE RACES is available for you to use for 30 days.
The registered version of this program is available for lease at a price of $99.
Price is guaranteed to the initial registration fee price forever, but only if user retains the license each year. Free
version upgrades and technical support for entire period of lease.
Users who have registered for $99 are eligible to register any version or any combination of versions of ATR on a
single computer at no additional fee. Users who registered for AT THE RACES at a price lower than $99 may
upgrade to ATRpro for a fee calculated as the difference between the initial fee and $99.
The license to AT THE RACES is for a single computer. Licenses for each additional computer is $25. There is no
fee for a user transferring the license from his computer to another, as long as the initial computer installation is
uninstalled. The license is not transferable to another user.
Each lease period ends at the end of the calendar year. The annual fee for users who registered prior to January 1
of the previous year will be equal to the registration fee the user paid for his current version of ATR.
If registered for less than the entire year, the next annual fee is pro-rated based on number of FULL months of
registered use. This renewal fee is calculated by multiplying one-twelfth of the initial registration fee times the
number of FULL months the program was registered in the previous year. For example, if the initial registration
occurred on July 7, 2016 for $99, the renewal fee for 2017 would be $41.25, calculated as ($99/12) x 5 months
(August thru December).
This program is for information only. The user is responsible for checking all betting data values and is responsible
for any errors. The user must be aware that there are times that the data on the Internet may be outdated or bad.
Registration is easy. Pay via PayPal at http://homebased2.com/atr/atr_price.htm or mail your name, email address
and $99 to: Gary Pizzigati 703 Manor Terrace, Moorestown NJ 08057
258
Gary Pizzigati, co-developer of At the Races
I’ve been involved with horse racing since before I was born, or so
mom claimed. With me on the way, my parents spent Saturday nights
at Roosevelt Raceway, my mom betting the horses with clever names
and my dad touting the trotters with the fast warm ups. What a great
start to life, parents with a passion for the ponies.
I’ve had the pleasure of watching many great horses over the years
since then, including my all-time favorite, Secretariat. Twenty years
ago, I wrote to Clairborne Farm and asked if I could give Secretariat a
visit. Got a letter back that invited me to come on down. My wife
Nancy and I ended up spending a morning with the greatest horse
ever. That may have been my greatest day ever.
That day with Secretariat spurred on my dream of owning a race
horse. I found a group of nine other dreamers. We pitched $15 per
week into the pot until we built up $20,000 and then handed that
bankroll over to the local leading trainer at Philadelphia Park.
Gary gets a tip from the greatest
horse of all time, Secretariat
We asked our trainer to claim us a horse. I studied the racing form every day, picking out the horses I hoped we would
get. Unfortunately, all those years of pitching five-spots into the pot went awry. Our trainer, instead of picking anyone of
several proven racers, inexplicably picked an ill-bred three-year-old filly that had just broken its Maiden at Penn National.
Some nine months later, another trainer, with apparently the same mental disorder that had hit our trainer, mercifully
claimed the horse off our hands.
That episode ended my horse-owning career. But I’m just as passionate about racing as ever, and I’ve loved all the time
I’ve spent around tracks and track people. I’ve been able to build wonderful friendships with folks like Jack Burkholder.
Working on At the Races with Jack, over these last three years, has been a lot of fun and rewarding, too. Hopefully,
you’ll find At the Races just as much fun and just as rewarding to use.
The feedback so far on At the Races has been exceedingly encouraging. People seem to be pleased to see a real nifty
tool for bet-at-home horse players. Don’t be surprised, with At the Races, if you become one of those track-side horse
players who now play from home. Good luck — and enjoy!
259
Jack Burkholder, co-developer of At the Races
"Show me the money"---this pop phrase while over used to triteness,
could be used to describe my life in racing and handicapping. You see,
my first wager in 1973 was at Charlestown. I wagered $50 to show
on a horse called Tufton Avenue. He not only showed, but he won. I
said to myself "How long has this been going on?”
From that auspicious start, I decided to pursue my dream of being a
full-time player. I bought books and tried many paper and pencil
systems, as there were no computers. I, of course, paid lots and lots
of tuition to my alma mater, Horseshoe U. It was a struggle to
maintain a bankroll and eat. There were many depressing bus rides
home from the Maryland tracks. One of my fellow riders was named
Andy Beyer. Whatever happened to him?
I embraced the computer age of the mid 80's through the Sartin Methodology with its tedious data entry. I have been
without downloading and with downloading. Downloading is better. High speed Internet is even better. AT THE RACES
would have been great back then, but then it is great now. Despite using a computer for many years, I am not
computer proficient. With AT THE RACES one doesn't need to be a computer whiz.
Handicapping for a living made me realize that I must always be ready to change and adopt new strategies and
techniques to stay afloat in paramutuel waters. I have always tried to use the best, most sophisticated products
available. I firmly believe that the contender selection has been totally covered by several software programs that are
"good enough to take to the window". The question is no longer about whom to bet, but rather how to construct the
wager for maximum return.
This is where AT THE RACES answers all the questions and does it automatically using Internet toteboards. As a
professional----I HATE TO LOSE, plus I can't afford to lose, so I am a very conservative bettor. AT THE RACES is my
program of choice designed to function the way I wager. However, the best thing about AT THE RACES it is also built to
function the way you wager. Win, place, and show info and options are available. Exactas, Daily Doubles, and Quinellas
info and wagering options are there as well. Dutches, hedges, boxes, and even part and back wheels are all part of the
program. Only short-sighted race track owners prevent trifecta and one click automatic betting into the tote.
Take AT THE RACES for a spin during the 30 day demo period. Kick the tires. Push all the buttons. It will help drive
your betting profits. AT THE RACES will most certainly show you the money.
260
Dick Schmidt Review 1/5
At The Races Computer program by Gary Pizzigati and Jack Burkholder
Review by Dick Schmidt
July 2002
This is one of the finest pieces of software available for the modern, computerized Internet handicapper. Such a
shame most of them will never consider buying it. Not that it's expensive, hard to use or not needed; it is none of
those things. It's what it doesn't do: pick horses. This is a betting program and thus falls into that vast morass of
dead programs and ideas called money management. Too bad, because this is the program most of us need far
more than another "horse picking" program. On the off chance that there are some professional level players out
there reading this, this program is what you have been looking for.
What At the Races does is access the Internet through your regular Internet connection (modem, cable, DSL,
whatever), gather minute by minute toteboard information, point out betting opportunities, do "Dr. Z" calculations
on the place and show pools, show you all the exacta payouts, including overlays and underlays, allow you to dutch
your win and exacta bets, show you when you make more money wheeling a horse in the exacta than with a
straight win bet and in general give you the information you need to make a bet. Since you provide your own
handicapping information, it will work with any program, system or method available, including homemade ones. If
you have a computer and a connection to the Internet, At the Races will work for you.
Because the documentation that comes with the program is a bit skimpy, I spent an hour on the phone with Jack
Burkholder, the program's designer, going over the fine points. Jack has been a professional player for over 20
years and he designed this program to do exactly what he wanted from a betting program. His professionalism and
experience are obvious in the way the program operates. As time goes on, more "bells and whistles" will be added
to the program, but right now it is a fully functioning, professional level tool. Anyway, here is a brief overview of
how the program operates, as I understand it. Both of the principles behind this program are very willing to
answer your questions by e-mail and are open to suggestions for improvements, so if I leave out anything, you can
always get more information from the source.
When you first open the program, you first need to click on the Internet Options button and tell the program how
you are accessing the Internet. I use a high-speed cable modem and found that I could ignore the questions about
proxy names and ports, I assume because my connection is always on. Anyway, I just told it I was using a proxy
for connection and away we went. It appears that if you are connected to the Internet when you start the
program, it will find your connection.
261
Next choice is to decide which Internet toteboard to use. You can choose between "R", the Racing Channel and "S"
the BRIS Supertote. If one doesn't carry the track you want, chances are the other will. This flexibility is typical of
the program. Given the amount of bickering that goes on between the various racing entities, you never know who
will be carrying what next week. At the Races lets you find the track you want. Should things change and other
toteboard options come along, I'm sure the program will be updated to accommodate them.
Once you choose a toteboard option, you will be shown a list of available tracks. Lots of tracks. Dog tracks. Harness
tracks. Australian tracks. Tracks you never heard of. It's wonderful the amount of information available on the
Internet. It's also wonderful to be able toutilize it. You can view the track toteboards in two ways, either one at a
time or scrolling through a list of selected tracks. If you want to see the tote action at just one track, select it and tell
the program to show it to you continuously. The tote will be updated every minute. Scratches are posted as they
occur. You can also tell it to show you one track without updates. You can edit the track list to just those tracks you
are interested in and have it cycle through once or continuously. Amazingly flexible.
Let's assume you want to watch the tote for the next race at Belmont. It is 20 minutes to post, and you want to
follow the tote action. You select Belmont as the track you want and tell the program to update continuously. Now
the fun begins. The first screen you will encounter shows the win prices (the actually return for a $2 bet), the
maximum and minimum place and show prices with Dr. Z bets highlighted in blue (the actual
advantage is shown under Place and Show ROI/$1) and the W/P/S pools, both total and for each horse. There are
also two columns labeled Pitz Exacta and Pitz Double. These show you when it is better to bet a horse in a dutched
exacta or double wheel instead of win. In other words, say you like the four horse. If he is paying $6.80 to win, it
may be more profitable to bet him on top of all the other horses in the exacta pool. This is a complex bet, as you
must bet a different amount on each combination, but the program will figure it out for you in a blink. Many times
you can turn a low paying favorite into a much more profitable situation in the exacta pool. Lots of useful stuff, but
there is even better stuff just ahead.
In the lower left-hand corner of the screen is a dutching box for win bets. You click on the white box under the
horse's number you want to bet and it will tell you how much to bet on each. It is set by default to bet $100 a race,
but you can change that by clicking on the Win Bets white box to the right of the dutch box. If you want to dutch
exotics, you can set them as well. Click on the box and then enter any amount you wish, from $20 on up. A neat
feature is that you can also hedge a bet. In other words, say you like the favorite and two others. Since you can't
really make money betting favorites, you decide to hedge, betting the favorite to break even and splitting the rest of
your money between the other two horses. If the favorite wins, you get your bet back, and you've put more money
262
on your longer priced horses. To do this, hit the box a second time, and the label will change from Dutch to Hedge
and will turn from green to blue. Hitting the box a third time cancels the bet.
Across the top of the screen, just under the track name, are a series of small buttons. The one labeled WPS
Payoffs is checked. Move your cursor and check the next one, Odds. The first two columns show the current odds
and the morning line for each horse. The favorite is shown in red, the second favorite in blue and the third in
purple. As the odds shift, the colors change with them. The columns labels 1st Exacta and 2nd Exacta show the
amounts bet on each horse, expressed as odds. The lower the odds, the more money bet in the exacta pool on
that horse in that position, either on top or underneath.
In our race at Belmont, the amounts bet each minute are displayed in the column labeled > 12 (greater than 12).
The amounts are expressed as odds. Think of each minute of betting as being a separate pool. Starting with 12
minutes to post, each individual minute is displayed and recorded, again expressed as odds representing the
money bet just during that minute. Therefore you can see that even though the 4 horse is 8-1 overall, he may
have been the even money favorite during the fifth minute before post time when the trainer made his big bet.
You can check to see how he did in the previous minutes and follow the action during the next few. Those who
use the "Talking Tote" to make their bets have found their ultimate tool.
The next button is Exacta Stats. It shows all the possible exacta combinations first as a payoff, then as a
percentage. If the percentage is red, the horse is that percent underplayed, based on the "fair" price of the win
odds. Blue and the horse is that percent overlayed. Before you get excited and decide to bet just the overlays and
get rich, most of the time Jack has found that it doesn't work that way. In exactas at least, the big underlays are
usually the ones to bet. If you don't believe it, try it on paper for a while.
After that, we find the Exacta Bets screen, my personal favorite. Here you not only see the familiar exacta payoff
matrix, but the tools needed to dutch and hedge exactas. Since the win dutch box accompanies us no matter
which screen we are using, I find that here I have all the information I need to play a race. Directly under the
exacta matrix are automatic plays labeled Low 2, Low 2 Box and so on. If you hit the Low 3 button, it will display
the bets for dutching the three lowest paying exactas. Low 3 box shows the dutch for the 6 combinations of the
lowest three odds horses. Play with these and you'll soon see how they work. To erase what you've done, click the
CLEAR box in the upper left hand corner.
263
Now let's get down to boxing and wheeling our handicapped picks. Directly below the Low 2/3 etc. boxes is an
exacta layout. This assumes a $2 exacta and in the top row displays the win payoffs for each horse. Down the
left side are the three types of exactas you can use: Box, Wheel and Back-wheel. To box up to five horses, just
click on their numbers in the top row and the program will dutch them for you. As with win, you can also hedge.
In this case, hit the payoff in the exacta matrix above and it will turn blue and hedge (bet to break even) your bet
on that combination. For the first time, exacta betting becomes a science, not a guess.
You wheel and back-wheel quite simply. Pick the number you want to key and the bets to all the other horses are
displayed. If you want to both back and full wheel a horse, you need to do two separate calculations. Don't
forget to adjust your total bet size. If you choose to try the "Pitz" betting, where you use an exacta bet instead
of a win bet, the Wheel command is perfect. Since this allows you to play many races with low priced favorites,
this feature alone is worth the price of admission. And don't forget the Back-Wheel instead of a place bet for
those of you who bet win and place. Many times it is far more profitable to bet a horse to win and then backwheel it in the exactas. More work, but also more money.
A new feature just added at my suggestion is the ability to part-wheel. I suggested it Tuesday night and had the
new feature in place on Wednesday afternoon. Did I mention that these guys offer very good customer service?
Well, they do. Anyway, click on the square labeled Wheel and the Wheel and Back-Wheel rows become Top and
Bottom for an exacta part-wheel. You click on the horses you want to win, and then again on the horses you want
to place. It is intelligent enough to allow the same horse to win and place without getting confused, and the
dutch is perfect. If you want, say, the 1, 2 and 3 horses to win and the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 horses to place, just
enter them in exactly that way and the program will take care of everything. This was not an easy thing to add,
and I'm impressed by the speed and accuracy of the upgrade.
If the race offers them, you also have click buttons for Daily Double and Quinella bets. They work just the same
as the exacta screens and I'll leave you to figure them out on your own. The part-wheel option was just added
for Doubles as well. The last click button is Options, where you can set up the program to suit yourself. For those
who like database research, you can save the data you have collected in a comma-delimited file at the touch of a
key. That way you would have a record of the minute-by-minute changes in the pools, together with exacta,
double and quinella information. For the database keeper who believes the answers are writ large in the
toteboard lights, here is the answer to your prayers.
264
It is traditional in a review of any kind for the reviewer to find some fault with the book or computer program under
scrutiny just to demonstrate he is a virtuous and righteous reviewer and not just a shill. OK, so here goes. I do have a
couple of tiny faults I have found. I wish that on several of the screens I had the option of displaying odds instead of
the payoff. They are both the same thing, I know, but I've been looking at odds for a very long time indeed and I'm
quite familiar with them. Small thing, but there you are. I also wanted to complain about the inability of the program
to dutch a part-wheel exacta, but Gary fixed it before I could get this into print. So now I'm left with only the lame
complaint that it is hard to bet when you have so many combinations, as when you dutch you of course get a different
amount for each combination. That's what dutching is all about. Three over five is 12 combinations. Add that to your
win bets and you better start putting in bets early. Try to do it for three tracks all going off within 4 minutes of each
other and it can be chaos.
Now this isn't the program's fault, it's just a fact of life, but you do need to plan ahead. Now if the betting services
would just allow us to click a button and place all our bets electronically . . . Oh well, I can dream. That service isn't
available outside of North Dakota, and only for a very select few (like one, the famous Dakota Whale).
Well, I guess that about covers it. I didn't mean to write a mini-manual here, but I do so very much like this program
that I want it to succeed and I thought that a detailed description of what's going on here might get people excited. I
know everyone betting on any kind of serious level NEEDS this program. I just hope that after reading this, they WANT
this program. It's easy to get, you download it from their web site. Of course, it is very expensive. Free for 30 days,
then the outrageous sum of $25 for using it through the end of 2003! If you order before September, they guarantee
that the program fee will never be more than $25 a year. This has got to be the bargain of this new century. (Editors
Note not included in original review - these fees are no longer available - see Registration slide for current fees.)
As I said before several times, I have found both authors to be very helpful and responsive to any questions or
suggestions. Several anonymous friends report the same experience. I know it's not "sexy" like a new method for
pickin' horses, but if you're serious about making money at the track you owe it to yourself to give this a try. The first
taste is free, and after you've tried it, you'll beg to be allowed to buy it. Here is their address for downloads and up-todate information: http://www.homebased2.com/atr/at_the_races.htm
To contact the authors: For technical support contact Gary at: garypitz@hotmail.com
For questions on how to use AT THE RACES contact Jack at: amazing3@hotmail.com
265

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